Ernie Johnson Jr., one of the most recognizable voices and sports personalities with the NBA, will be the featured speaker for the Mountain View Auto Group luncheon at McCallie School on Feb. 5.
Tickets for the noon luncheon, which is the kickoff to that weekend's Dr Pepper TEN Classic basketball tournament, are $25 and include the meal, Johnson's speech and tickets to the slam dunk contest at 2 p.m.
Johnson hosts the popular TNT show "Inside the NBA" and also works for CBS Sports, serving as studio host for the NCAA basketball tournament. He also covers Major League Baseball on TBS and the PGA Championship on TNT. He will speak to the four teams involved in the Dr Pepper TEN Classic - McCallie, Central, Hamilton Heights and Oak Hill Academy - as well as anyone else wishing to attend.
"We are extremely excited and fortunate to have (him) kick off this event," said McCallie coach John Shulman. "He is a special person, not only in the world's basketball community but as a husband, father and human being."
The Dr Pepper TEN Classic will take place at McCallie with two sets of doubleheaders. Central plays Hamilton Heights at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5, followed by McCallie vs. Oak Hill Academy at 8. The next night, McCallie plays Central at 6, followed by Hamilton Heights vs. Oak Hill at 8.
Oak Hill Academy, located in Mouth of Wilson (Va.) is considered one of the top basketball programs in the nation and was runner-up last season in the prep national championship tournament. More than 160 former Oak Hill players have signed NCAA Division I basketball scholarships, and 25 former players have been drafted by NBA teams since 1981.
Tickets for the games are $25 per day and $50 per day for courtside seats. Tickets for the luncheon as well as the two nights of basketball can be purchased online at mccallie.org/drpepper10classic. For more information, contact the McCallie athletics office at 423-493-5539.