The Bass Pro Tournament of Champions brings in the rising stars of basketball and Springfield’s very own Central kicks it off. The Bulldogs are competing in the TOC in back-to-back seasons, while also coming off a third place finish.
“In this kind of tournament we see some adversity,” said Central Head Basketball Coach Jordan Epps. “We see what our guys can do and it helps us in the long run at the end of the day.”
Central takes on the Bullis Bulldogs of Maryland, a team making their TOC debut. Their roster includes players committed to Marquette and UConn.
“We’re going to have our hands full,” Epps said. “We have our hands full whenever we play anybody big, but at the end of the day I think that we have some good kids that can compete.”
Branson’s Link Academy Lions play in game two. The team has nine Lions ranked in the top 100, including Chris Cenac Jr. ranked sixth and committed to Houston.
“Once they get here, get in the atmosphere, get in the game and get in the environment I think it’s something you know they might not have an idea of it right now, but when they leave here it’s something hopefully they will remember for the rest of their life,” said Link Academy Head Coach Chad Myers.
The lions face the Millenium Tigers from Arizona. The Tigers’ small forward Cameron Holmes is ranked 17 in the nation and needs 3 three hands to count all of his power 5 offers.
To cap off opening night, Parkview makes its 12th appearance. The Vikings are coached by Jack Simpson, who also played in this tournament (with Kickapoo).
“I was in it 11 years ago and like I was telling some other people I could still tell you plays,” Simpson said. “You know I hit an and one three in the corner, beat my chest. I was super excited.”
His Vikings play in a regular season game on Tuesday against the Branson Pirates, making it a quick turnaround as they face the Oak Ridge Pioneers of Florida two days later.
“We only need one day to prep for Oak Ridge anyway, that was sarcasm by the way,” Simpson said. “Those guys are going to be really good, but it’s just going to be a great experience great opportunity.”
The Pioneers are another fresh face to the TOC bringing with them four division one players, two in the nation’s Top 50.
All of the action starts on Thursday, January 16 with the first tip at 4:30 PM.
