IT'S now time for the Iolani Prep Basketball Classic to move out of the Iolani gym and into a bigger venue. Iolani Classic ready
to go to the next levelThat is, at least for the semifinals and finals.
The tournament, which concluded last night, drew SRO crowds two of the last three evenings and wound up with four nationally ranked teams in the field.
Provo (Utah) came in unranked but knocked off two ranked teams in two nights: St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda, Calif., on Friday, and Miami Senior on Saturday.
So, as of last night, the Bulldogs, who lost to No. 1 St. John's at Prospect Hall (Md.) in the final, were No. 18 in the National Prep Basketball Poll.
Miami was No. 12 and St. Joseph was No. 13 in the same poll this week. USA Today had Miami at No. 9 and St. Joseph at No. 10. Not a bad tournament.
Nike had a representative scouting the Iolani Classic's first couple of nights and that's encouraging. The rep, Don Crenshaw, said that indeed the athletic shoe corporation was considering a sponsorship.
IF that comes to pass, the classic could move to the Blaisdell -- where it used to play -- and probably have enough financial backing to invite as many ranked teams as the best mainland preseason tournaments.
Maybe more.
The event is obviously marketable and has unmistakable appeal at all levels.
Jason Capel, the North Carolina recruit who is destined for the NBA some day, and other players from ranked teams, obliged countless autograph-seekers during the five-day tournament.
Young and old alike realize that the high school signature of a future pro star could be rather valuable.
Those who were smart enough to get Flint Hill's Dennis Scott and Fairfax's Chris Mills to scrawl on a program in 1987, or Oak Hill's Jerry Stackhouse to do the same in 1992, are glad about it now.
The Iolani Classic does need to promote itself much better. That means not relying solely on newspaper coverage, which is going to fluctuate based upon how many other events are going on each night.
TV and radio spots and newspaper ads require sponsorship money. There has to be a way to let a greater portion of the local sporting public know this tournament features some of the best prep teams in the nation and some of the best individual players -- some of whom will become household names.
NIKE stopped in largely due to an enthusiastic recommendation from Stu Vetter, head coach of St. John's, who has coached in several Iolani Classics. Vetter has long insisted that the classic is one of the country's better preseason tournaments, deserving better support and visibility than it gets.
Nike's backing of a high-caliber prep tournament here would target a critical constituency. And the firm is already entrenched with other Oahu commitments in December. At the collegiate level, there's the Hawaii-Nike Festival. For track fans, there's the elite Waikiki Mile to start the month.
It's a fact that the Iolani Classic has been almost a well-kept secret -- and for too long.
There is at least one national pollster who would cover the Iolani Classic if it had one or two more marquee teams at the top of the field. And several more mainland newspapers would want to carry coverage of ranked teams from their areas.
The classic has been supported primarily in recent years by a donor who prefers to remain unnamed. But it's an event that could use a major infusion of sponsorship money.
This is as good as it gets at the prep level in basketball. When you're watching the Iolani Classic, you're watching future NCAA and NBA stars, and you're watching local youngsters get the thrill of their lives by matching up against them for 32 unforgettable minutes.