Annual Chick-fil-A Classic basketball tournament canceled because of COVID-19 concerns
The Chick-fil-A Classic basketball tournament, a holiday tradition in the Columbia area, won’t happen in 2020 because of “so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus pandemic.”
The tournament announced Friday it was canceling this year’s event. It is played annually at Richland Northeast High School and attracts top teams and prospects from around the country, sometimes internationally.
“Coronavirus won this,” Chick-fil-A tournament director Gary Fulmer said. “With so many teams coming from all over and so many unknowns, it made sense to do it. We don’t think we could have done it safely. We hate that it had to happen.”
This would have been the tournament’s 19th year. A number of Chick-fil-A Classic alums went on to play in the NBA, including Steph Curry, Zion Williamson, Miles Bridges, Bol Bol, PJ Dozier and Cam Reddish. James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards, both expected to go in top few picks of this year’s NBA Draft, played in the event in 2018.
Fulmer said the event each year generates between $150,000 to $160,000, money that goes toward operational costs and scholarships.
Sixteen teams from nine states were scheduled to appear in 2020. This year’s field featured seven of the top 21 teams in the country, including Oak Hill Academy and Legacy Charter out of Greenville. Local teams scheduled to play in the event included Keenan, Gray Collegiate, Blythewood, Lower Richland and Ridge View.
Fulmer said the teams in this year’s field would have an invitation to play in next year’s event.
The Carolina Challenge, a smaller event that runs in conjunction with the Classic, is still on for now. Fulmer said the S.C. teams that were scheduled to be in the Chick-fil-A Classic have the option to play in the Carolina Challenge.
Organizers released this statement regarding this year’s event:
“It is with deepest disappointment we announce that this year’s tournament will not be held this December (19-23).
Due to so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus pandemic in the coming winter months, the decision was made to cancel with our top priority being the health and safety of the participating athletes, coaches, tournament staff, game officials and fans. The tournament is preparing now for a return in December of 2021. Stay safe!”
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 5:12 PM.
