2020 NCAA basketball academy in Rock Hill, Winthrop campus canceled due to coronavirus
The 2020 NCAA basketball academies, events across the country that would have put Rock Hill and Winthrop University on the proverbial national stage of college basketball, have been canceled amid the threat of coronavirus.
The event, a developmental boys’ basketball academy for top college prospects in the country, would have taken place in two three-day sessions from July 20-26 at four locations: Rock Hill, S.C.; Wichita, Kan.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Storrs, Conn.
Both sessions were canceled Tuesday, per an NCAA release.
“While the academies have only been in place for a year, there’s still going to be a void from not being able to conduct them this summer,” Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president for basketball, said in a statement. “However, our commitment to the academies is firm, and we look forward to staging them again in 2021.”
In Rock Hill, the players and coaches would have trained and played in the new Rock Hill Sports and Event Center, a state of the art facility with nine courts, including a championship court that can seat over 1,500 fans.
Then, all 400 players at the Rock Hill location would have stayed in Winthrop’s dormitories and eaten in its dining halls — an effective introduction of Winthrop to the nation’s best college basketball prospects. Winthrop also would have received payment from the NCAA for serving as a host site.
“From our end, we’re disappointed,” said Andy Clinton, VP of sales for destination marketing organization Visit York County. “But obviously, we understand why the decision was made and completely support that. We want events to come back as soon as possible, but we also want it to be in a safe matter.”
In October, The Herald reported that Visit York County CEO Billy Dunlap said that the week-long event in York County would have an economic impact of $1 million.
“It definitely would have put us on the map, considering the caliber of the event, the caliber of the players,” Clinton told The Herald. “And then when you get 300 D-I college coaches in your town, it’s a big difference.”
Clinton said he’s expressed to the NCAA that Rock Hill would like to host the basketball academies next summer.
NCAA academies: Winthrop, City of Rock Hill
Visit York County, the City of Rock Hill and Winthrop University were the three entities that ultimately brought the event to York County.
Winthrop deputy athletic director Hank Harrawood told The Herald that the NCAA’s decision aligns with its stated mission of prioritizing the health and welfare of college athletes.
“It’s a noteworthy example that the national office and the NCAA membership really do continue to operate with student-athlete welfare at the forefront,” Harrawood said. “Everybody wanted to have these events. They serve a good purpose. And I think they were lining up to be successful this summer, and they’re an important piece of changing basketball recruiting culture and that kind of thing. So it would have been much better to have them than not, if circumstances were different. ...
“But again, I think it’s important to not miss the context that the national office has demonstrated that it puts health and safety above its other athletic interests, if that makes sense.”
Harrawood also said he hopes Winthrop will be able to host the camps in 2021.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to submit a bid, or that our bid will just be pushed forward to 2021, and we’ll be able to host next year because I think it’s a great event for our city, our community and our campus.”
Related NCAA recruiting news amid coronavirus
Also on Tuesday, the boards of directors for the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association have “recommended an extension” of the current recruiting dead period until July 31.
The current dead period runs through the end of May.
The dead period would ban in-person recruiting, including campus visits for prospects and in-home visits from coaches.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 12:42 PM.
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