Thursday, February 5, 1998
Iolani Classic lands
Nike sponsorship
The company has high hopes
By Pat Bigold
for the tournament
Star-BulletinNike Inc. has signed a long-term deal to sponsor the Iolani Classic. The plan, according to Don Crenshaw, director of the company's high school basketball operations in the United States, is to make the tournament "the best prep basketball tournament in the country."
Crenshaw, who attended several games during last December's tournament, said Nike's sponsorship of some of the best prep teams in the nation will allow Iolani to rival the most prestigious tournaments in the country.
Last year, three nationally ranked teams were invited to the tournament, but that number could rise to five or six this year, according to Crenshaw.
"Based on the last USA Today poll, we sponsor (Nos.) 1 through 4 and six of the top 10 teams in the nation," Crenshaw said.
"We are involved with more nationally ranked teams than any other sporting goods company. Every big tournament is after the same teams we have relationships with. So you can be assured that what you'll see in the next Iolani Classic will be high quality."
Nike stages other major prep basketball events such as Saturday's "Nike Extravaganza" in Irvine, Calif., a one-day shootout featuring at least five ranked teams, according to Crenshaw.
The company also sponsored the "Nike Super Six" at Madison Square Garden last month, which featured two of the best players in the country: Al Harrington of St. Patrick's (Elizabeth, N.J.) and Korleon Young of the Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.).
Nike will fund half the Iolani Classic's operating budget -- about $20,000, allowing the tournament to finish in the black for the first time in years.
Crenshaw said he has spoken with Iolani officials about moving the final, and possibly even the semifinals, to a venue like the Blaisdell Arena or the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I think the quality of the athletes in the event will merit that (a bigger arena)," Crenshaw said. "Some of the high school basketball players today are among the finest athletes on the planet. Think of people like Kobe Bryant."
Crenshaw wouldn't say how many years the deal was for, but said it would extend into the next decade.
A major sponsor was last affiliated with the Iolani Classic in 1991, when Oceanic Cable had a one-year commitment.
In 1992, Oceanic pulled out. The tournament was not held that December. Prior to Oceanic, McDonald's provided a multi-year sponsorship.
Glenn Young, who founded the Iolani Classic and now assists tournament director Eddie Hamada, said the field will remain at 16 teams.
"There will be eight from the mainland and eight from Hawaii," Young said.
He said he already sent invitations for this year's tournament to several of the nation's best programs and expects to hear back from them soon.
"In the past, we invited some really good schools, but they couldn't afford to travel," Young said. "Some of the ranked schools come from the inner city and just can't raise the money for the airfare. Being with Nike solves that problem."
The Iolani Classic, which began in 1983, typically features some of the top individuals in the country. About 20 players who played in the tournament have gone on to play in the NBA. This year's tournament is scheduled Dec. 17-22.
