Fred VanVleet Classic at Auburn brings in teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Memphis and Chicago
Could the road to the NIC-10 boys basketball title begin with a detour through Texas, Chicago, Memphis, Tennessee and Oklahoma on Thanksgiving week? Auburn coach Bryan Ott hopes so.
Auburn narrowly missed winning its sixth conference title in 13 years last season, finishing one game behind Guilford — before upsetting the Vikings in the regional finals and going on to win its fifth sectional title under Ott. The Knights should be one of the league favorites again this year.
And it shouldn’t take long to find out how good the Auburn Knights can be. They will open the season with four marquee games in the Fred VanVleet Classic, which replaces the old 205 Tip-Off Classic from Nov. 20-25 at Auburn High School.
When Rockford Public Schools officials said they couldn’t fund the tournament anymore, Ott decided to run it and went to Rockford’s greatest basketball player for sponsorship. VanVleet, an NBA champion and All-Star, led Auburn to its first two conference titles under Ott.
“It’s very appropriate to have a tournament at Auburn High School and named after Fred,” Ott said. “We’re just thrilled to be able to call something the Fred VanVleet Classic. His sponsorship is very active. He’s been gung-ho about the whole concept of having a high-level tournament with high-level teams.”
The tourney has been known for bringing in strong teams from places such as Indianapolis, California, Florida and Memphis. Two new states joined the action this year with Legacy from Spring, Texas, and Choctaw, Oklahoma coming to Rockford.
“Playing teams from so far away, you don’t know their kids but you know they wouldn’t be coming here unless they were really good, is quite an allure for a young kid,” Ott said. “I am excited and I am not even playing. We know we are going to get an excellent test to start the year. Those teams coming in are looking for the exact same thing: a different look. Illinois basketball has a great reputation nationally for the quality of play and the style.
“Hollywood, Florida, came here for three years in a row. They appreciated playing a more physical style. As athletic as they were, we were able to shut them down a little. Our style is something they don’t see, and vice versa.”
Chicago Whitney Young, which has reached the Class 4A state title game six of the last 14 years, and Memphis Douglass return as two other marquee draws.
2023 Fred VanVleet Classic Schedule
All games at Auburn High School
Monday, Nov. 20
Jefferson vs Elgin Larkin, 5 p.m.
East vs. Chicago Morgan Park, 6:30 p.m.
Legacy (Spring, Texas) vs. Auburn, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 21
Chicago Perspectives vs Jefferson, 5 p.m.
Whitney Young vs Legacy (Spring, Texas), 6:30 p.m.
Chicago Bogan vs East, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 22
Belvidere North vs Chicago Perspectives, 11:30 a.m.
Elgin Larkin vs Chicago Bogan, 1 p.m.
Chicago Whitney Young vs Auburn, 2:30 p.m.
Chicago Morgan Park vs Belvidere North, 4 p.m.
Chicago Perspectives vs East, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 24
East vs Memphis Douglas, 2:30 p.m.
Chicago Clark vs. Belvidere North, 4 p.m.
Chicago Morgan Park vs Elgin Larkin, 5:30 p.m.
Memphis Douglas vs Auburn, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Chicago Bogan vs Choctaw, Oklahoma, 10 a.m.
Chicago Morgan Park vs Memphis Douglas, 11:30 a.m.
Belvidere North vs Elgin Larkin, 1 p..m.
East vs Chicago Clark, 2:30 p.m.
Memphis Douglas vs Chicago Bogan, 4 p.m.
Choctaw, Oklahoma, vs Auburn, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: mtrowbridge@rrstar.com, @matttrowbridge or 815-987-1383. Matt Trowbridge has covered sports for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after previous stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and Iowa City.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Fred VanVleet Classic expands elite field to Texas and Oklahoma
