N2HOOPS High School Basketball Tournament: Elite Talent Showcase

MADISON- The 2018 N2HOOPS Invitational Basketball Tournament, sponsored by Hometown Lenders, is set for Nov. 19-21 at Bob Jones High. The 16-team boy’s event will welcome back the 2017 defending champion Blackman Blaze out of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

“Blackman has won two of our first three tournaments and again is expected to bring another very competitive squad for a shot at yet another N2HOOPS championship,” said Taylor Shields, tournament director.

Luther Tiggs, head coach of the host Patriots and originator of the tournament, knows the competition within the 23-game tournament is always fierce and very competitive. He’s also very aware of the boatload of individual talent that walks onto the court each year of this holiday-style tournament.

“Blackman has to be the favorite until somebody beats them,” said Tiggs. “The highlight game, especially the first night, is the 8:00 p.m. matchup between Lee and East Limestone. That game will feature the top two individual talents in the tournament with Austin Harvell of East Limestone and Kobe Brown of Lee. What a tremendous meeting of the two teams that’s going to be as fans get to see those two tremendous draws at the same time, and not to mention C.J. Yarbrough with East Limestone, too.”

East Limestone has both Harvell (G, 6-6, 215, Jr.) and C.J. Yarbrough (F, 6-3, 190, Sr.) on the squad. Both are transfers as Harvell came from Clements while Yarbrough transferred from Tanner and both are highly rated among the top players in the state. Harvell is listed as the No. 2 player in Alabama and No. 125 in the U.S. among juniors and Yarbrough is rated No. 3 in the state and No. 75 nationally, as well as, being a three-time all-state selection. Yarbrough also plays football for the Indians.

Brown is a 6-5, 220-pound senior and is listed as the No. 4 basketball talent in Alabama and, like Harvell and Yarbrough, has had a cartload of offers from some of the top college basketball programs in America. The General can choose from Georgetown, Kansas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn, Minnesota and others for his athletic scholarship.

Additional players to watch include JaKeese Erskine (East Limestone), Dee Pearson (Gadsden City), Jalen Myers (Bob Jones, 6-7, Jr.), Jadan Coleman (Bob Jones, 6-4, Jr.), Malik Tyson (Sparkman, 6-4, Sr.) Zoryn Harrington (Blackman), Jordan Burchfield (Blackman), Jacaquari Johnson (Blackman), Jalen Page (Blackman), Jalen Stayton (Blackman), Gian-Carlo Valdez (Decatur-Heritage), Eddie Smith (Huffman) and  Cameron Hughes (Huffman).

“Bringing these type of elite players and great teams is not possible without the support we receive from Hometown Lenders as they make sure the teams are well taken care of,” added Tiggs.

This year’s tournament has taken on a more “local” flavor than the previous three events. The team lineup includes- Bob Jones, Park Crossing (Montgomery), Madison Academy, Pinson Valley (Birmingham), Gadsden City, Austin, Hazel Green, Eufaula, Lee, East Limestone, Sparkman, Huffman (Birmingham), Decatur-Heritage, Columbia, Blackman and Florence.

“Admission is $6 per day and we currently have reserved sidelines seats available for purchase,” said Shields. “Our tile sponsor, Hometown Lenders, has a great staff and we’re proud to have them onboard as they have been from the beginning.”

For details and to reserve the special sideline seating, call 256-975-7311 or 256-783-1581.

The action will be held in the main gym and auxiliary gym at Bob Jones High each day. Opening day rumbles tipoff at 2:15 p.m. with each team in action once. The championship game is set for Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

“This tournament showcases the City of Madison and brings in a lot of revenue and I’m proud to be a part of it,” added Tiggs.