KFDM COOP Posted April 20, 2006 Report Posted April 20, 2006 There will be plenty of aching necks from fans looking up at the estimated 7,000 youngsters (over 1,000 standing 6’7 or taller) visiting Houston’s north side this weekend to participate in the Houston Kingwood Classic. This is without a doubt the premiere amateur basketball event in the country. Heck, you might as well call it the “Spring National Championshipsâ€. Hosted by Vision Sports’ grassroots mogul, Hal Pastner the HKC has grown from 2 schools (five years ago) to over 40 schools / facilities that it will take to house the event. An estimated 5,000 hotel rooms have been booked across Houston. Virtually every single passenger van within 100 miles of Houston is already locked down. Take a deep sniff, yep, basketball is definitely in the air. Just when you thought the grand-daddy of all summer events couldn’t get any bigger, MJ (yes, Michael Jordan himself) will be attending this year’s HKC. However, once MJ finds out about the Shell Houston Open Golf Tournament (which takes place right in the middle of HKC territory), you know where he’ll be when not at Westfield High School watching his son Jeffrey (who plays for the Illinois Rising Stars). In last year’s event, Pastner added a Platinum Bracket in the 17s Division. Well, this year, there’s a pair of Platinum Brackets, and the two winners will square off 4:30 Sunday to earn the title “King of the Classicâ€. Virtually every single D1 college in the United States will have at least one coach attending this event. Why not? This event is basically the ultimate buffet for all college recruiters. There’s nothing like being hungry and hot, not to mention lost and running late for a ball game! Let’s just hope the buffet restaurants have stocked extra food, because these we are definitely hungry – for hoops, that is. QUICK FACTS 2002- Last time a Houston team won the HKC (Hstn Hoops def Ft SOOY) 663 - Total teams entered in the 2006 HKC (9s thru 17s Division) 252 - Teams playing in the 17s Division 162 - Teams playing in the 16s Division 96 - Teams playing in the 16s Division last year (2005) 85 - Teams from Texas playing in 17s Division 85 - Estimated number of courts that will be occupied during the HKC 69 - of the 81 Pools (17s Division) includes a Texas based team 42 - Number of facilities booked for the HKC 36 - of the 81 Pools (17s Division) has a Houston based team 34 - Number of California teams playing in 17s Division 11 - Number of teams with the namesake of a celebrity figure. Team Melo (MD), Derek Smith AS (KY), T-Mac All Stars (TX), Lamar Odom I Can All Stars (CA), TJ Ford Elite (TX), Cuttino Mobley Studz 16s (PA), Ray Jackson Rising Stars 16s (TX), Team Kurt Thomas 16s (TX), Agassi Stars 14s (NV), J Prince All Stars 14s (TX), Ray Jackson Rising Stars 13 (TX)
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