Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

You know about the local teams, but what about the visitors?

The annual Ironton Classic basketball extravaganza will be Monday and Tuesday at the Ironton Sports Center and will feature four games each day including a matchup between M.A.C.K and Wesley Christian.

The M.A.C.K. Prep Wildcats may be the most prolific team in the Classic with a record of 186-77 over the past six years and nationally ranked with nearly 70 players now playing in nine Division I conferences.

This year’s team features five players being recruited by Division I schools including 6-foot-7 Kayode Fakomi (UNC-Charlotte, Fordham, Duquesne, UT-Chattanooga), 6-4 Ryan Young (Fordham, UT-Chattanooga, Wingate, Livingstone, NC-Central), Jeremiah Buford (Citadel, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State), 6-foot Ishmael Chisholm (NC-Central, Marist, Catawba, Wingate) and 6-foot Percy Bryant (Wright State, NC-Central, Wingate, J.C. Smith).

Wesley Christian was 27-17 last year and is currently 14-6 and led by 7-foot-2 Azubuike Nwankwo and 6-10 Christian Lorng. The roster also features 6-7 Mohamad Elsheikha, and Daniel Garcia, Milos Milosovic, Rasheed Weekes and Tajaun Smith who are all 6-6.

One of the top high school games features host Ironton against Columbus Independence.

The 76ers were 14-8 last year and have had 15 players sign with Division I programs over the past 15 years. This year’s team features leading scorers Caron Harrison and Jaymes May and get help from Dana Price, Brian Smith and Tylan Gilmore-Smith who are all 3-point shooters.

Harrison averages double figures in rebounding.

IRONTON CLASSIC

Monday’s Games

Coal Grove vs. Rose Hill Christian, 3:00

Portsmouth vs. Col. Africentric, 4:45

Independence vs. Ironton, 6:30

Ironton St. Joseph vs. Hunt. St. Joe, 8:15

Tuesday’s Games

Ironton girls vs. Ashland, Ky., girls, 3:00

Spring Valley, W.Va. vs. Cin. Taft, 4:45

Huntington, W.Va. vs. Ironton, 6:30

M.A.C.K. vs. Wesley Christian, 8:15