The most recognized high school basketball program in the nation is coming to Chattanooga. Perennial national power Oak Hill Academy, of Mouth of Wilson, Va., will be part of a four-team tournament to be held Feb. 5-6 at McCallie.
The school will announce today that it is partnering with Coca-Cola Bottling Company to host the inaugural Dr Pepper 10 Classic which will feature Oak Hill, McCallie, Hamilton Heights and Central High School in a round-robin set-up.
“It’s like the University of Kentucky basketball team or the Alabama football team coming to Chattanooga,” Blue Tornado coach John Shulman said of Oak Hill, which has won eight national championships, produced 166 NCAA Division I players and has had 25 former players selected in the NBA draft since 1981. Included are current NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Durant.
McCallie centers Henry Self (22) and Terrance O’Donohue (15) try to strip the ball from Tyner player Mike Bradley during a 2010 basketball game at McCallie.
Central’s Tre Tiller brings the ball up the court Monday during his team’s 71-55 win against Brainerd at the Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament at Chattanooga State Community College.“We like going to places we haven’t been before and playing good competition, and this seemed like a good fit. We’re excited to be part of it,” said Oak Hill coach Steve Smith, whose team last week reached the final of the Dick’s Sporting Goods high school national tournament and finished the season at 47-1.
Oak Hill returns five players from last year’s team that are considered D-I prospects, including 7-foot rising senior post Rodney Miller, who has offers from Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Purdue, Virginia Tech and Virginia); 6-9 rising senior forward Khadin Sy (Virginia and Georgia Tech offers); and 6-7 rising senior Joe Hampton (offers from Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Penn State).