The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will operate a men's college basketball tournament featuring elite teams from across the country beginning in December 2009, University of Hawaii and ESPN Regional Television officials announced today.

The Diamond Head Classic will be played Dec. 22, 23 and 25, in conjunction with the football bowl game. The eight-team tournament will be owned by ESPN Regional Television, which sponsors several other college basketball tournaments as well as the Hawaii Bowl.

“;I believe the significance of this event is enormous,”; UH athletic director Jim Donovan said, “;tantamount to our university joining the Western Athletic Conference and more recently the formation of the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.”;

The first contract is a four-year deal with the UH not only operating the tournament, which will be held at the Stan Sheriff Center, but also playing in it, forcing the annual Rainbow Classic to be revamped.

The Diamond Head Classic is expected to be similar in scope to the annual EA Sports Maui Invitational played Thanksgiving week.

“;The Diamond Head Classic allows the University of Hawaii to once again be a focal point in preseason college basketball and we couldn't be more excited,”; UH coach Bob Nash said. “;We have a golden opportunity to showcase our program and student athletes before a national audience and play some of the elite teams in the nation.”;