How York County’s Battle at the Rock has already become a national basketball showcase
By David ThackhamCorrespondent
FORT MILL
Billy Dunlap says he subscribes to a simple theory on how to make an event an annual success: Treat your guests well and they’ll remember you.
When it comes to hosting a high school basketball showcase designed to attract high-caliber teams from across the country, Dunlap says he wanted to provide those teams — what hoops fans pay to see — with top-quality accommodations.
That’s the key, he says, to why this year’s second Battle at the Rock basketball showcase Dec. 12-14 at Nation Ford High School is expected to eclipse last year’s sell-out numbers.
Dunlap said it was important to get the details right — starting with a “first-class facility” in Nation Ford, hiring top officials with the South Carolina High School League and providing plenty of swag for the kids.
“We wanted to be known as an event that people knew this was a quality spot run first-class,” said Dunlap, the president and CEO of the Rock Hill/York County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s those things that you do that make people more likely to remember who you are, and make the best teams come back.”
This year’s Battle at the Rock showcase is scheduled to host 36 prep teams — up from 19 in last year’s event — from across the country to create three packed days of premier girls and boys high school basketball action.
“You take care of the teams, feed them, provide them with tons of T-shirts, polos, backpacks,” he said. “The basketball’s got to be good. The facility has to be good. (When) people remember you, they’re excited to come back and be a part of it.”
Here’s what you need to know about the Battle at the Rock this weekend:
Oak Hill’s Cam Thomas (24) drives the baseline during early 1st half action. Jonathan Aguallo Special to the Observer
See the college stars of tomorrow
Last year’s inaugural Battle at the Rock basketball showcase attracted some of the top high school basketball players in the nation to York County.
Fans got an up-close look at top national hoops prospects like Cole Anthony (now at North Carolina), Josiah James (Tennessee) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Villanova) before they made their transition into the college ranks.
Here’s a short list of 5-star prep boys recruits from across the country who are guaranteed to dazzle this weekend in Fort Mill.
Cam Thomas, Oak Hill Academy – Thomas, a 6-3 senior shooting guard, signed last month to play basketball at LSU. The 5-star recruit, who is ranked No. 18 on ESPN’s 100 recruiting database, has received offers from Auburn, UCLA, Florida and other schools.
MarJon Beauchamp, Dream City Christian – Beauchamp, a 6-6 senior small forward, plans to play professionally following high school. The 5-star recruit is ranked No. 29 on ESPN 100. He received offers from Georgetown, Southern California, Washington and Arizona, among others.
Jaden Bradley, Cannon School – Bradley, a 6-2 point guard, is ranked No. 8 on ESPN 25 for the class of 2022. The sophomore, a 5-star recruit, has received offers from Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and more.
Josh Hall, Moravian Prep – Hall, a 6-9 small forward, signed last month with N.C. State. The senior is ranked No. 54 on ESPN 100, and is the No. 2 player in North Carolina. Hall received offers from several schools, including Kansas, Louisville, Alabama and Texas.
South Pointe’s Jamia Blake dribbles past Westwood’s Malayziah Etheredge. Tracy Kimball tkimball@heraldonline.com
Girls hoops standouts to know
Some of the top girls basketball athletes in the Carolinas will also be at this weekend’s showcase.
This will be the first year girls basketball teams will compete in the Battle at the Rock. Thirteen girls teams will participate , highlighting some of the top talent in North and South Carolina.
Several talented athletes have been named among the top-5 seniors in their state classifications, per the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA).
Dunlap said he wanted to attract the “top tier” of girls basketball teams in the Carolinas because there was a lack of high-quality girls events in the area.
Here are the girls basketball standouts:
Milaysia Fulwiley, Keenan High School – Fulwiley, a 5-7 freshman point guard, has already competed in two state title games for the Raiders. She was named earlier this year to the SCBCA Preseason Elite Girls list. The 5-star recruit has received offers from South Carolina, North Carolina and Ole Miss.
Nyah Leveretter, Westwood High School – Leveretter, a 6-3 senior forward, was also named to the SCBCA Preseason Elite Girls list. She is ranked No. 89 in the ESPN 100 rankings, and has signed with Kentucky.
Jamia Blake, South Pointe High School – Blake, a 5-8 senior guard, helped lead her team to last season’s state title game.The Stallions were ranked No. 2 in the Class 4A rankings ahead of the 2019-20 season. Blake has received offers from Furman and East Carolina.
Oak Hill and IMG Academy attracted tons of interest from neutral fans at the 2018 Battle at the Rock basketball tournament at Nation Ford. Oak Hill’s 6-foot-11 center, Kofi Cockburn, readies to swat a Dorman shot during their game. Bret McCormick
Championship-worthy matchups
You won’t be disappointed by these featured games.
If you love watching the country’s best high school prospects before they jump to the collegiate level, these are the must-see showcase games you should check out.
Moravian Prep vs. Dream City Christian (Boys) – 6:30 p.m. Thurs, Dec. 12, Court 1
This first-day matchup involves big-time prospects who are already receiving tons of college buzz. Moravian Prep’s Hall plays alongside Shakeel Moore, who’s also committed to the Wolfpack. Facing them will be fellow 5-star recruit Beauchamp for Dream City Christian — a team which also boasts players like Arthur Kaluma, a 6-8 power forward currently ranked No. 36 on ESPN 60 2021, as well as Alex Tchikou, a 4-star recruit ranked No. 39 on ESPN 60 2021.
South Pointe High School vs. Keenan High School (Girls) – 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 12, Court 2
AZ Compass Prep vs. Moravian Prep (Boys) – 10 a.m. Sat., Dec. 14, Court 1
Wake up early to see some talented juniors take on Hall and Moravian Prep. AZ Compass Prep features 6-2 guard Frankie Collins, a 4-star recruit who has received offers from Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU and more. Teammate Maxwell Lewis is a 4-star recruit.
Northwestern High School vs. Great Falls High School (Boys) – 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 14, Court 1
Northwestern’s Ger-Cari Caldwell slams in a fastbreak after a steal in the Trojans’ win over South Pointe on Monday, December 2, 2019. Alex Zietlow
A packed house for a ‘national showcase’
Dunlap said he hopes to beat last year’s ticket sales.
Organizers sold 3,500 tickets for the three sessions during last year’s inaugural event. If all night sessions sell out, Dunlap said the event could be in the 4,500-5,000 ticket range.
In its second year, Battle at the Rock has already hosted the likes of elite prep teams like Oak Hill Academy and IMG Academy, who count NBA stalwarts like Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley as alumni.
“When they signed on, we quickly became a national showcase overnight,” Dunlap said. “This year, we’ve had such an onslaught of teams reaching out, we’ve added a second gym and had to accommodate for more and more fans.”
The Battle at the Rock is designed to attract out-of-town visitors during what would normally be a slow time for hotels, Dunlap said. He said York County stands to attract thousands of visitors per month to the area, especially through sports tourism.
Dunlap cited success at the recent BMX World Championships, and said there was much more to come between Rock Hill’s incoming indoor sports center as well as the Carolina Panthers’ future headquarters move to Rock Hill from Charlotte.
Dunlap said there are about 12 new hotels in York County which are either under contract or construction, and should be complete within the next 18 months.
“Hoteliers are taking notice of these impacts,” he said. “The more demand you have for people coming to the area, the more supply you need…. The momentum won’t be slowing anytime soon.”
