S.C. Pro-Am basketball: ‘We can help guys get to the next level’

Carey Rich loves to tell the story.

“Michael Boynton had just left South Carolina, and he was hanging out at the gym one day watching,” Rich said. “He left telling me, ‘As soon as I get back into college basketball, I’m coming to get that guy.’”

That guy was Jared Johnson, a Ridge View High graduate. Boynton knew that while no major colleges were looking at him, he could make an impact somewhere.

Once he was back in the game, being hired at Stephen F. Austin by another former USC assistant, Brad Underwood, Boynton kept his promise. After two years at Hill (Texas) College, Johnson signed with SFA and started 20 of 31 games last season for a team that made its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Johnson is one of dozens of players who showed their skills at Rich’s S.C. Pro-Am, which starts its fourth season on Sunday. It’s why Rich holds the event – Columbians get to watch high-level basketball during the slow summer months, and participants get to fine-tune their skills against other elite players.

“It’s not pickup basketball,” Rich said. “I see the eyes of those guys – I want to make sure they’re still playing with the same happiness that they always have. We can help guys get to the next level.”

The Pro-Am is open to any college or professional player and features a myriad of statewide talent plus a lot of familiar names.

Rich, the “mayor of Columbia basketball” who also works with Columbia’s youth and family services, radio station 107.5 FM, WACH-Fox TV during basketball season and serves on the boards of USC’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the Chick-fil-A Classic, has cobbled together another star-studded lineup for this year’s event.

It’s an abbreviated schedule – four game days of three games each, plus a round of playoffs – but fans will be able to see most of USC’s next team, former in-state greats and veteran overseas professional players. It has become a showcase, and while Rich deservedly is proud of it, he’s always looking to take the next step.

When Rich played collegiately, summer leagues were in Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh. He wanted to create that feel in Columbia, and with so much top talent in the area that spread to the corners of the state, he was able to bring several back home for a week or two.

“We have pro talent in the area,” Rich said, “but this goes on at the same time as NBA summer leagues. That’s the one missing element – we’re waiting for those guys to come.”

Professional vets such as Devan Downey, Mike Jenkins, Dominique Archie and Travis Smith will attend, and reps of many of the in-state college teams will play. Why wait until October to see basketball, especially if you’re a player such as Johnson trying to get somewhere?

“You never know who’s watching,” Rich said.

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 10:21 PM.