252 Tip-Off first of 2 Hoopstate showcases at WPA
After waiting out COVID, Rod Bridgers’ attempts to bring a Hoop State Network showcase to his hometown of Wilson experienced further difficulties last season. With the Hoop State Wilson Prep Showcase set to debut Jan. 22, a snowstorm first delayed and ultimately forced the cancellation of the event.
Now Bridgers and Hoop State are back with not one, but two events at Wilson Prep this season, including the inaugural 252 Tip-Off this Friday and Saturday. Twelve boys teams will play nine games, three on Friday and six on Saturday, culminating with the host Tigers taking on Greenfield.
That will be followed less than a month later by the Wilson Prep Hoop State Showcase, which will include Tiger girls and boys tangling with Farmville Central on Dec. 10.
“I think the biggest thing for us was just trying to move the dates up earlier,” Bridgers said. “Like last year, the Wilson Prep event it was good to go, but just the weather. If it weren’t for the weather.”
The two showcases are part of Hoop State’s 2022-23 schedule of events, something the media company that Bridgers helped found is getting pretty good at. The early season blitz continues next weekend with the Hoops and Dreams Showcase at Fayetteville State’s Capel Arena followed by the Good Guys Vs. Cancer event at First Flight High in Kill Devil Hills on Dec. 2-4. After the Wilson Prep Hoop State Showcase on Dec. 10, the focus will be on the John Wall Holiday Invitational at the end of the year.
One more event in early 2023, the MLK Day showcase at Farmville Central on Jan. 14, will wrap up another busy year – weather permitting, of course. But there should be no snow anywhere near Wilson on Friday and Saturday when a host of quality teams and some high-profile players descend on Wilson Prep’s “Tiger’s Den.”
In addition to Greenfield, the NCISAA 1-A runner-up last season, and Wilson Prep, an NCHSAA 1-A semifinalist, reigning NCISAA 2-A champion Burlington School will play two games. Crossroads Christian, an NCISAA 1-A semifinalist in February, will be the first opponent, opening the 252 Tip-Off on Friday before taking on Millbrook and highly regarded sophomore post Colt Langdon, who Bridgers described as a top 50 player in the country.
Then there’s Pittsboro Northwood senior Drake Powell, who has verbally committed to Hubert Davis’ top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Bridgers said Northwood Temple, an NCISAA 2-A program from Fayetteville, has four players 6-foot-10 or taller.
“So it’s just going to be a great event for the city of Wilson to kind of give people a different look,” he said. “Not to say people are tired of seeing the same teams, but I think it’s a blessing for me to be able to just bring those high-level teams and players into the city.”
That might be true but the local fans are more likely to be interested in the final matchup of the night, pitting Greenfield (1-1) against Wilson Prep in the Tigers’ season opener. WPA head coach Anthony Atkinson Jr. will be coaching against his former high school coach in the Knights’ Rob Salter. With both teams holding state championship expectations of their own, fans should find get their money’s worth.
Bridgers said that it’s not always easy to put together great matchups like this one, given that some teams are hesitant to jump in against highly regarded opponents early in the season.
“It’s kind of difficult because a lot of teams, honestly, don’t really want to play one another, you know, so it’s just trying to find the best matchups, not only for teams but the fans will enjoy as well,” he said. “But some of these teams will play because they know it helps their playoff seeds, especially the small 2-A, 1-A schools like Wilson Prep. They play these games – win or lose – it helps their seeding.”
Hoop State 252 Tip-Off
Friday, Nov. 18
Burlington School vs. Crossroads Christian, 5:30 p.m.
First Flight vs. Millbrook, 7 p.m.
Greenfield vs. Cape Fear Academy, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19
Northwood Temple vs. Camden County, noon
Crossroads Christian vs. First Flight, 1:30 p.m.
Wayne County Day vs. Pittsboro Northwood, 3 p.m.
Millbrook vs. Burlington School, 4:30 p.m.
Farmville Central vs. Cape Fear Academy, 6 p.m.
Greenfield vs. Wilson Prep, 7:30 p.m.
After waiting out COVID, Rod Bridgers’ attempts to bring a Hoop State Network showcase to his hometown of Wilson experienced further difficulties last season. With the Hoop State Wilson Prep Showcase set to debut Jan. 22, a snowstorm first delayed and ultimately forced the cancellation of the event.
Now Bridgers and Hoop State are back with not one, but two events at Wilson Prep this season, including the inaugural 252 Tip-Off this Friday and Saturday. Twelve boys teams will play nine games, three on Friday and six on Saturday, culminating with the host Tigers taking on Greenfield.
That will be followed less than a month later by the Wilson Prep Hoop State Showcase, which will include Tiger girls and boys tangling with Farmville Central on Dec. 10.
“I think the biggest thing for us was just trying to move the dates up earlier,” Bridgers said. “Like last year, the Wilson Prep event it was good to go, but just the weather. If it weren’t for the weather.”
The two showcases are part of Hoop State’s 2022-23 schedule of events, something the media company that Bridgers helped found is getting pretty good at. The early season blitz continues next weekend with the Hoops and Dreams Showcase at Fayetteville State’s Capel Arena followed by the Good Guys Vs. Cancer event at First Flight High in Kill Devil Hills on Dec. 2-4. After the Wilson Prep Hoop State Showcase on Dec. 10, the focus will be on the John Wall Holiday Invitational at the end of the year.
One more event in early 2023, the MLK Day showcase at Farmville Central on Jan. 14, will wrap up another busy year – weather permitting, of course. But there should be no snow anywhere near Wilson on Friday and Saturday when a host of quality teams and some high-profile players descend on Wilson Prep’s “Tiger’s Den.”
In addition to Greenfield, the NCISAA 1-A runner-up last season, and Wilson Prep, an NCHSAA 1-A semifinalist, reigning NCISAA 2-A champion Burlington School will play two games. Crossroads Christian, an NCISAA 1-A semifinalist in February, will be the first opponent, opening the 252 Tip-Off on Friday before taking on Millbrook and highly regarded sophomore post Colt Langdon, who Bridgers described as a top 50 player in the country.
Then there’s Pittsboro Northwood senior Drake Powell, who has verbally committed to Hubert Davis’ top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Bridgers said Northwood Temple, an NCISAA 2-A program from Fayetteville, has four players 6-foot-10 or taller.
“So it’s just going to be a great event for the city of Wilson to kind of give people a different look,” he said. “Not to say people are tired of seeing the same teams, but I think it’s a blessing for me to be able to just bring those high-level teams and players into the city.”
That might be true but the local fans are more likely to be interested in the final matchup of the night, pitting Greenfield (1-1) against Wilson Prep in the Tigers’ season opener. WPA head coach Anthony Atkinson Jr. will be coaching against his former high school coach in the Knights’ Rob Salter. With both teams holding state championship expectations of their own, fans should find get their money’s worth.
Bridgers said that it’s not always easy to put together great matchups like this one, given that some teams are hesitant to jump in against highly regarded opponents early in the season.
“It’s kind of difficult because a lot of teams, honestly, don’t really want to play one another, you know, so it’s just trying to find the best matchups, not only for teams but the fans will enjoy as well,” he said. “But some of these teams will play because they know it helps their playoff seeds, especially the small 2-A, 1-A schools like Wilson Prep. They play these games – win or lose – it helps their seeding.”
Hoop State 252 Tip-Off
Friday, Nov. 18
Burlington School vs. Crossroads Christian, 5:30 p.m.
First Flight vs. Millbrook, 7 p.m.
Greenfield vs. Cape Fear Academy, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19
Northwood Temple vs. Camden County, noon
Crossroads Christian vs. First Flight, 1:30 p.m.
Wayne County Day vs. Pittsboro Northwood, 3 p.m.
Millbrook vs. Burlington School, 4:30 p.m.
Farmville Central vs. Cape Fear Academy, 6 p.m.
Greenfield vs. Wilson Prep, 7:30 p.m.