Schedule announced for 20th Flyin’ to the Hoop

“One thing that’s near and dear to my heart is giving local kids a chance to play on a big stage,” Horstman said.

Centerville, last season’s Division I runner-up and the 2021 champion, returns for a rematch with nationally ranked SoCal Academy in the Sunday night 8:15 game. The Elks, featuring reigning Ohio Mr. Basketball Gabe Cupps, knocked off highly regarded SoCal last year during an unbeaten regular season. Cupps is a four-star recruit who is committed to Indiana. The Elks have added four-star transfer guard Jonathan Powell from Chaminade Julienne. Powell is a junior and has offers from Ohio State, Dayton and most recently Michigan State.

Four defending state champions from Ohio are in the field: Division I Pickerington Central, Division II Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Division III Cincinnati Taft and Division IV Richmond Heights. Indianapolis Cathedral, a defending state champion in Indiana, will play Pickerington Central on the final day of the event. Pick Central features four-star Ohio State commitment Devin Royal.

“We’re excited to come over here, we’re excited to watch great basketball, great programs, great coaches, and to be a part of it and try to represent Indiana,” said Cathedral coach Jason Delaney.

Wayne has played in Flyin’ every year since 2007 and is back to face Garfield Heights in the 3 p.m. Sunday game, and first-timer Preble Shawnee faces Oakwood in Sunday’s 11:30 a.m. opener. Wayne is led by three-star guard Lawrent Rice who is committed to Murray State.

“We are truly thankful and blessed to even say that we’re a part of this great tournament,” Wayne coach Nate Martindale said. “To see our kids have the opportunity to play against national teams and they get to see these other teams in the Dayton area compete against national teams, that’s what you want.”

Saturday begins at 11:30 a.m. with a girls matchup pitting Beavercreek vs. Springboro. That game will be followed at 1:15 p.m. by Dunbar and Pickerington North. Chaminade Julienne closes the day with an 8:15 p.m. matchup against Pace Academy of Georgia. CJ lost Powell to Centerville but added transfer senior George Washington III whose dad is a new assistant women’s coach at Dayton. Washington, a four-star recruit, previously committed to Ohio State but he has reopened his recruitment.

Springboro and new coach Brian Bales play Lima Senior at 1:15 p.m. Monday. Fairmont plays the traditional final game at 6:30 p.m. that day against Lakota West. Springboro features talented sophomores R.J. Greer and Jerome White.

“I’m excited to be at Springboro, I’m excited to be in Flyin’ To The Hoop,” said Bales, who coached Franklin in this event when he had two-time Mr. Basketball and current NBA player Luke Kennard. “It’s the gold standard. It’s one of the premier events in the country, if not the premier event, and we’re just honored to play in it and honored to play a great program like Lima Senior.”

Horstman said the event will feature 10 five-stars, over 20 four-starts and six of the nation’s top 25 preseason teams.