MANSFIELD – Some of the nation’s top varsity boys high school basketball teams from throughout the U.S and Canada will showcase their talent at the Evolving Through Love Basketball Classic Saturday Dec. 2 and 3 at Pete Henry Gymnasium at Mansfield Senior High School.
Teams competing in this year’s tournament include Capitol Christian Academy (Upper Malboro, Missouri); Racine Park (Racine, (Wisconsin); St. Michael’s College School (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Northeastern Prep Academy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); First Love Christian Academy (Washington, Pennsylvania); and Horizon Christian Academy (Ft. Wayne Indiana).
Evolving through Love, (E.T.L.), a new community organization, and local community service groups We ACT and Mansfield U.M.A.D.A.O.P. are collaborating on the event for youth and the Mansfield community. The U.S. Army Recruiting Service and the 179th Airlift Wing Ohio Air National Guard are also boosting the showcase.
“E.T.L., We ACT and Mansfield U.M.A.D.A.O.P. all share similar missions, assisting young individuals within our community to reach their highest potential,” said Christen Lee, Founder of Evolving through Love. “The purpose of this event is to raise funds to contribute to health initiatives dear to E.T.L.
Lee is a 2003 Mansfield Senior graduate and former varsity basketball player. He lost his mother, Evern Lee, in 2016 to cancer. Among the initiatives key to ETL include: cancer support services, the Ronald McDonald House, and homeless and wounded veterans.
“My mom believed that everyone can evolve through love and that love has the power to build bridges and connect people to greater opportunities in the world,” Lee said. “We look forward to seeing the passionate fans and amazing competition at this year’s tournament.”
Basketball Finders and Scholastic Play-By-Play Classics are partnering with Evolving Through Love for this event. Basketball Finders is a multinational recruiting service consisting of former college coaches, top AAU coaches and ambitious basketball enthusiasts, Lee said. Scholastic Play-By-Play Classics has showcased dozens of current and future NBA stars including: Lebron James and Kevin Durant.
“I want this tournament to provide a platform for players from a small town to get the same exposure during regular season that a top AAU tournament would offer in the summer,” Lee said.
The tournament will feature special guests professional basketball players and Mansfield Senior graduate Ricky Minard and Todd Michael Jadlow, with SportsWorld. Minard is a Mansfield Senior graduate who played for Tampereen Pyrintö of the Korisliiga. He left Morehead State as that school’s career scoring leader. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2nd round of the 2004 NBA draft.
Jadlow played for the New Jersey Nets and played collegiately for the Indiana University Hoosiers from 1985 to 1989 under Hall Fame basketball coach Bob Knight and was part of the Hoosiers’ 1987 national championship team.
Fans can also enjoy a free “Kids Zone” featuring fun activities and a coloring contest with prizes sponsored by the Richland Outreach Center.
Games will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for Adults and $6 for Students. Children 5 and under get in free. Tickets will be available at the door.
