Allen Iverson produced one of the most memorable moments in Hampton Coliseum history 31 years ago, drawing 8,000 fans for a regular-season high school basketball game in which his Bethel Bruins edged the rival Hampton Crabbers for the Peninsula District title.
Iverson will bring what is arguably the biggest high school basketball game since that night in February 1993 to the Coliseum on Saturday. His Allen Iverson Classic All-American Game will draw almost all of the top 15 high school players to the Coliseum for a 7 p.m. game.
For those who want to see more of the nation’s top prep players, festivities begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bethel High in the gym named for Iverson. All will take part in The Iverson Games, which include dunk and 3-point shooting contests as well as a one-on-one tournament following the 24K all-star game that features players all ranked in the top 100 nationally.
The event is in its eighth year, but its first in Hampton Roads.
“It’s going to be incredible,” said Iverson Classic co-founder Jai Manselle, a Hampton Roads native. “This is something that means a lot for us because the City of Hampton and Hampton Roads are so instrumental in making us who we are.
“Having Allen Iverson’s name on the building for this game is unbelievable. What people need to be looking for is competition because the teams will have practiced together for three days and defense will be played in this game.
“What we haven’t seen yet is how these All-Americans compete against each other.”
Arguably the marquee name in the event is Duke recruit Cooper Flagg. The 6-9 forward from Maine was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year after reclassifying as a senior at Montverde Academy (Florida).
“It’s going to be really exciting to see him at the next level,” Manselle said, before comparing Flagg to Oklahoma City star Chet Holmgren, an Iverson Classic alum. “The conversations going around are the same as for Chet when he was in the game a couple of years ago.”
Also on hand will be Dylan Harper, a 6-5 point guard from Don Bosco in New Jersey, ranked No. 1 among seniors in the preseason by Lindy’s Sports. Manselle compares him to DJ Wagner, another New Jersey native, who started for Kentucky last season after earning Iverson Classic MVP honors a year ago.
“Dylan is cool to watch because he brings a different energy to basketball,” Manselle said. “Playing against that competition up there (New York/New Jersey) gives you an edge and makes you a better player faster.”
Manselle says another player to watch because he could shine in the NBA quickly is VJ Edgecombe. A 6-5 guard from Long Island Lutheran, Edgecombe will play in college at Baylor.
“VJ might have the biggest upside in terms of being built to go to the next level,” Manselle said.
The game features a celebrity aspect with Houston recruit Mercy Miller, whose father is rapper Master P.
Duke and Illinois each have three recruits in the game. Other colleges with recruits on the rosters include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Connecticut, Houston, Kansas, Miami, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Rutgers, South Carolina and Texas.
Manselle feels it’s the best collection of high school talent anywhere and should make for a great dunk contest Thursday and a great game Saturday.
“Our dunk contest has a great history,” Manselle said. “That was sort of the national debut for Mac McClung (the former Gate City High player who’s won the past two NBA All-Star dunk contests) against Kevin Porter Jr. (six years ago).
“This year’s dunk contest will be NBA-level and will bring the house down.”
Allen Iverson Classic
Thursday at Bethel High (6 p.m.): 24K Showcase Game; 1-on-1 tournament; dunk contest; 3-point shooting contest
Saturday at Hampton Coliseum (7 p.m.): Allen Iverson Classic All-American Game
Tickets: iversonclassic.com
