Arvest Bank is pleased to once again host one of the region’s most highly anticipated early-season boys basketball tournaments – the Arvest Classic – beginning Dec. 5 at Parkview High School in Springfield, Mo.
Host Parkview returns three full-time starters from last year’s team, including Dontae Taylor. Taylor is a four-year starter who earned all-conference and all-district honors last season.
The eight-team field also includes Springfield’s Kickapoo High School. The Chiefs are coming off a 22-5 season that included a run to the state tournament quarterfinals. Junior guard Anton Brookshire is the returning Ozark Conference Player of the Year and has a handful of Division I scholarship offers.
Defending champs Fayetteville (Ark.) High School also return to the event. They are led by Coach Brad Stamps, who succeeds Kyle Adams, and return all-state brothers Tamaury and Isaiah Releford.
Other teams competing are Helias Catholic from Jefferson City, Raytown, Lafayette (Wildwood), Newcastle (Okla.) and Redemption Life Tabernacle Church Prep (RLTC) from Haskell, Okla. RLTC Prep is led by guard Tyler Pinder, a member of the Bahamas Under-17 national team, and 6-11 center Pop Wayne.
“The Arvest Classic features some outstanding teams and individual players this year,” Arvest Bank Springfield president Brad Crain said. “This tournament always provides a tough early-season test for those in the field, and this year is no different. We are looking forward to some highly competitive, highly entertaining games. What a fantastic way to start the season.”
Raytown and Lafayette (Wildwood) open the tournament at 4 p.m. on Dec. 5, followed by Newcastle vs. Kickapoo at 5:30 p.m. Parkview plays RLTC Prep at 7 p.m., followed by Fayetteville-Helias Catholic at 8:30 p.m.