BCSP: The Banner of Black College Sports

Basketball classics invade Big Houses

LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor

Black college basketball usually fills up big arenas at tournament time, but fans can get an early dose or what's to come, particularly in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), as a host of classic matchups come to large venues over the next couple of weeks.

This Saturday afternoon (Jan. 12), CIAA basketball returns to the Virginia Tidewater when the second annual Legends Classic, now re-named the Legacy Classic, tips off at Norfolk's 10,000-seat Scope Arena in a doubleheader showcase.

Virginia Union faces St. Paul's in the 6 p.m. opener before Elizabeth City State battles Virginia State at 8 p.m. The Classic, which will honor former CIAA greats Ernie Fears, Jocelyn Goss, Laverne Sweat and Willie Gary with a banquet on Friday, benefits the Southside Boys and Girls Club of Norfolk.

That same night at the 18,000-seat Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA), site of the Feb. 25-March 2 CIAA tournament, four more CIAA teams take the court for a doubleheader in the Carolinas Freedom Classic.

Last season's CIAA tournament finalists, Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith face off at 6 p.m., with St. Augustine's and North Carolina Central tangling at 8. Doors open at 3 p.m., with a gospel concert featuring Kim Burrell to kick things off at 4 p.m.

Eight days later (Sun., Jan. 20), the 10,000-seat Richmond Coliseum, which will host the March 4-9 MEAC Tournament, has its own Freedom Classic pitting Virginia Union against Virginia State. The game coincides with the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday weekend.

The granddaddy of them all is the third annual Legacy Classic which comes to the 17,000-seat Charlotte Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 20.

Last year, the games, played each year on the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, drew over 12,000 fans for the classic involving three CIAA rivals and an old CIAA member, North Carolina A&T, now in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

A&T faces N. C. Central at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, with hometown team J. C. Smith taking on Winston-Salem State in the 5:30 finale. But the games are the climax of activities that begin on Thursday.

Motown recording star Brian McKnight tips the weekend off with a concert Thursday night (7 p.m.) at Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium with RCA star Tyrese. Friday night (7 p.m.) at J. C. Smith's Brayboy Gymnasium, a celebrity team of stars including Chris Spencer and Alex Thomas of the Jamie Foxx Show, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott and Boris Kodjoe of the Showtime TV show Soul Food will play a charity basketball game against safety Deon Grant and members of the Carolina Panthers football team.

Glenda Hatchett of the TV show, Judge Hatchett, comes in on Saturday morning (11:30 a.m.) for a Teen Summit benefiting local youth organizations and gospel recording star Donnie McClurkin performs Saturday night 7:30 p.m. Among other celebrity guests expected to be in attendance are actress Lisa Ray, Norfolk State graduate Tim and his wife, Daphne Reed, and DJ and recording star Biz Markee, who will perform at the games and at after-parties.

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