Chick-fil-A Classic basketball tournament is back for 2021, with new Midlands location
The Chick-fil-A Classic is moving locations and changing dates for this year.
The Classic, which is one of the top high school basketball holiday tournaments in the country, is moving from Richland Northeast High School to River Bluff High and will be held Dec. 27-30.
Lexington High School will host part of the Carolinas Challenge, a sister event held on the same days of the Chick-fil-A Classic. The first day of the Carolinas Challenge will be at River Bluff on Dec. 27 and the second day will be at Lexington on Dec. 28.
The tournament had been held at RNE since its inception in 2002 and usually takes place before Christmas. It’s unclear if the move to Lexington County is permanent or just for this year. There is ongoing construction at RNE. Lexington County and the town of Lexington are now listed as gold sponsors for the event on the Chick-fil-A Classic website.
The event was canceled last year because of COVID-19 concerns. It has annually been one of the marquee stops for top high school basketball teams and players across the country.
The field for the Chick-fil-A Classic was announced on Wednesday evening. Out-of-state teams include: Hillcrest Prep (Arizona), Archbishop Stepinac (New York) Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (California), St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland), Denver Prep (Colorado), Huntington Prep (Huntington, West Virginia), Dream City Christian (Arizona), Grayson (Georgia), Carmel Christian (Matthews, North Carolina), John Marshall (Richmond, Virginia). In-state teams are: Legacy Early College, Lexington, Irmo, Ridge View, Keenan and River Bluff.
Some of the top players include Dream City’s Shaedon Sharpe, a Kentucky commit and No. 1 prospect in Class of 2022, Denver Prep’s Baye Fall (ESPN’s No. 2 Class of 2023). Prolific Prep of Napa Christian has three of the top 20 players in Class of 2022 in Ade Bona, Dior Johnson and MJ Rice.
Ridge View’s GG Jackson (Class of 2023 No. 16 by 247Sports) and Lexington’s Cam Scott (Class of 2024 No. 11 by ESPN) also will be in the event.
Carolinas Challenge teams are Dutch Fork, A.C. Flora, Blythewood, Richland Northeast, Christ School (NC), Ardrey Kell (NC), Cape Fear and Charlotte Christian (NC).
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, Cam Reddish, James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards. Four players picked in the 2021 NBA Draft, including No. 2 pick Jalen Green, played in the event.
Tournament director Gary Fulmer has said the tournament generates between $150,000 to $160,000, money that goes toward operational costs and scholarships.
This story was originally published October 6, 2021 at 10:48 AM.
