Eighth Annual Fyin to the Hoop coming soon
When the Flyin to the Hoop boys basketball invitational started eight years ago, those in attendance that first weekend didn’t know what to expect. Now fans do.
Starting its third season at Kettering’s Trent Arena, FTTH has morphed into one of the country’s top high school hoops events and arguably the top tournament of its kind in the Midwest.
The ascent has been steady and quick.
During its five-year run at Vandalia-Butler’s Student Activities Center, FTTH played host to several top-notch teams and players. At first the FTTH, held in 2003, five current NBAers took the court, including three that made the first all-tournament team: J.R. Smith (St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark, NJ), Von Wafer (Heritage Christian, Houston, TX) and Rudy Gay (Archbishop Spalding). Josh Boone (West Nottingham Academy) and Marcus Williams (Oak Hill Academy) also played in the inaugural event, as did NBDL?player J.R. Pinnock (Coastal Christian).
Since that first FTTH, four more NBAers have appeared including Dayton’s own Daequan Cook (Dunbar), B.J. Mullens (Canal Winchester), DeAndre Jordan (Christian Life Center) and Brandon Jennings (Oak Hill Academy).
Collegiately, over 80 current NCAA Division I players have appeared at FTTH. Colleges sporting FTTH alumni on their roster include: Duke, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona State, Washington, Dayton, UNLV, Texas, Penn State, Illinois, Arkansas, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Florida State, Georgetown, Florida, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Wright State.
While the first event was nearly an all-private school field, FTTH has developed over the years into its current state, which is a special showcase pitting not only the Miami Valley’s finest, but Ohio’s finest versus out-of-state competition.
At the FTTH you can see Dayton-based squads like Dunbar, Alter, Wayne and C-J and Ohio-based schools Benedictine, Marion-Franklin and Princeton test themselves against some of the nation’s top and most well-known teams (i.e. Oak Hill Academy and Montrose Christian).
This year is no different.
Several of the teams in this year’s field are nationally ranked, including Findlay Prep (No. 1), Whitney Young (No. 10), Montverde Academy (No. 12) and Pine Crest (No. 23).
Individually, 15 players ranked in the Top 50 in their respective class (senior, junior, sophomore and freshman) are on rosters.
It’s good that this year’s event is stacked again, because it has a lot to live up to. Consider…last year’s FTTH featured the high school national champion (Findlay Prep), an Ohio state champion (Columbus Northland), an Ohio state runner-up (Thurgood Marshall) and an Ohio state semifinalist (Dayton Christian).
What can this year’s tourney do for an encore?
I’m eager to see – and you should be too.
TRENT ARENA
After its successful stay at the Butler SAC, FTTH?enjoyed its initial run at Trent Arena in 2008.
Trent Arena stands as a testament to the Kettering School District and was completed in October of 2005. It was part of a larger 102 million-dollar construction process that encompassed the entire district, which owns and operates the venue.
On December 2, 2005 the arena was dedicated to James S. Trent former principal and Superintendent of the Kettering School District. The event marked the opening of the 2005-06 Fairmont boys basketball season, and the first ever sellout crowd. Trent seats 3,650.
Ironically, Jim Trent had been one of FTTH’s biggest supporters and fans while at Vandalia and is even more so now that it is at the Trent.
3…2…1
This year FTTH looks to add to its legacy.
Again saddled with a standout line-up, there is a great mixture of hometown teams, out-of-town talent and solid basketball.
…Buckle up and get ready for take off.
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
Saturday, January 16, 2010
1 11:30 am Marion Franklin (OH) vs. Centennial (GA)
2 1:15 pm Garfield Heights (OH) vs. Winton Woods (OH)
3 3:00 pm Aiken (OH) vs. Miller Grove (GA)
4 4:45 pm Princeton (OH) vs. Pine Crest (FL)
5 6:30 pm Trotwood (OH) vs. Montverde Academy (FL)
6 8:15 pm Findlay Prep (NV) vs. Cleveland Benedictine (OH)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
7 11:30 am Future Academy (NC) vs. Kettering (OH)
8 1:15 pm Huntington Prep (WV) vs. Kettering Alter (OH)
9 3:00 pm Cleveland Heights (OH) vs. Roger Bacon (OH)
10 4:45 pm West Jessamine (KY) vs. Centerville (OH)
11 6:30 pm Flora Academy (NC) vs. Thurgood Marshall (OH)
12 8:15 pm Whitney Young (IL) vs. Dunbar (OH)
Monday, January 18, 2010
13 11:30 am Flora Academy (NC) vs. Westerville North (OH)
14 1:15 pm Pine Crest (FL) vs. Jefferson (OH)
15 3:00 pm Wheeler (GA) vs. Lakota East (OH)
16 4:45 pm Centennial (GA) vs. Chaminade Julienne (OH)
17 7:30 pm Miller Grove (GA) vs. Wilmington (OH)
18 8:15 pm Montverde Academy (FL) vs. Wayne (OH)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FTTH CLICK HERE
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