The New River Career and Technical College Invitational has become one of the top basketball events in the state since it debuted in 2019.
Tournament Director Mike Green isn’t taking his foot off the gas.
The event will return in 2022, running from Jan. 5-8 and feature Class A boys champion Man, Class AAA boys champion Shady Spring, Class AAAA girls champion Huntington as well as Class AAAA girls runner-up Cabell Midland.
Confirmed boys teams in Class AAAA are Princeton, Greenbrier East, Cabell Midland, Woodrow Wilson and Huntington. Class AAA will feature Independence, Westside, Shady Spring, PikeView and Logan Wildcats. In Class AA Wyoming East and Liberty will compete while Greenbrier West, Richwood, James Monroe, Webster County, Mt. View, Man and Greater Beckley Christian will represent Class A.
Confirmed girls teams include Woodrow Wilson, Spring Valley, Cabell Midland, Huntington Highlanders, Greenbrier East and Class AAA PikeView.
“The event has grown beyond my expectations,” Green said in a press release. “We have tried to provide a quality experience for the teams and spectators.”
The event will feature several returning all-state and honorable mention players
Amongst them are Chandler Schmidt (Cabell Midland), Maddex McMillen (Woodrow Wilson), Adam Seams (Greenbrier East), Braden Chapman, Cole Chapman, Jaeden Holstein, and Cameron Manns (Shady Spring), Dylan Blake (PikeView), Michael McKinney (Independence), Tanner Whitten (Wyoming East), A.J. Williams (Liberty), Caleb Blevins, and Jackson Tackett (Man), Eli Allen and Shad Sauvage (James Monroe), Rye Gadd (Webster County), Kaden Smallwood and Jordan McInnis (Greater Beckley Christian).
All-State 2021 girls players returning to the Invitational include Imani Hickman and Diona Gray (Huntington), Jazmyn Wheeler, Jayda Allie, Rylee Allie and Kaedlee Potter (Cabell Midland), Cadence Stewart (Greenbrier East) and Keanti Thompson (Woodrow Wilson).
More than $25,000 in student scholarships will be awarded to participating student athletes. In addition, the $1,000 prize to the school with the “Best Cheering Section” will return to the 2022 event.
“We want the tournament to provide excellent basketball competition while opening the doors to educational and training opportunities for these student athletes to pursue future careers,” Green said.
For more information about the New River CTC Invitational and sponsorship opportunities, call 304-929-6734, email Foundation@newriver.edu, and visit www.nrctcf.org.
