King Cotton Classic announces lineup

Some of the top boys basketball teams and players in the country will be in Pine Bluff (Arkansas) in December

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Samuel Glover has a good problem. 

The director of the recently revived King Cotton Classic, featuring some of the top boys prep basketball teams in the country, has to try to top the lineup from the year before. 

He was proud as he unveiled a lineup of standout teams featuring big-time recruits for this year’s event scheduled for Dec. 27-29 at the venerable Pine Bluff Convention Center.

“Our goal every year is to eclipse what we did the year before,” Glover said following a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “Every year, I say this is going to be the best King Cotton in history. People say, ‘Wait a minute, we had Corliss Williamson (former University of Arkansas star and NBA veteran) and Jason Kidd (former Cal star and NBA Hall of Famer).’ I said, ‘I understand that, but last year we had Nick Smith and Kel’el Ware (both North Little Rock McDonald’s All-Americans) and several other Division I players, and this year we have double the number of ranked players we had last year.’ Some of these teams don’t just have one great player, but they have two or three players ranked in the Top 150. These superstar rosters are going to make for exciting basketball.”

The King Cotton Classic, scheduled for Dec. 27-29, tipped off in 1982 and enjoyed a run of prominence, including live ESPN television broadcasts, until the event was canceled in 1999. The Go Forward Pine Bluff initiative, a non-profit created to improve the city in various aspects, revived the event in 2018.

In that span, Glover has managed to land the caliber of teams and college recruits the event was famous for in its initial run.

Included in this year’s group is St. John Bosco (Calif.) 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Elzie Harrington, who is ranked No. 5 nationally in his class and No. 1 in California. 

“That is big time,” said Glover, who is Pine Bluff’s parks and recreation director and a former track and field star at the University of Arkansas. 

Several other Power 5-recruited players join Harrington, including Stephen Castle, a senior from Newton High School in Covington, Ga., committed to UConn. Castle is ranked No. 20 in the class of 2023 by one scouting service.

Maybe the top player in the tournament is no stranger to it. Beaumont (Texas) United four-star University of Washington commit shooting guard Wesley Yates brings his Timberwolves back to Pine Bluff after taking second to North Little Rock last year in the King Bracket.

United is the defending back-to-back Class 5A Texas state champion and has lost only six times in the past three seasons.

“When I recruit a team, I do look at the top-rated sophomores and juniors sometimes or a solid, quality team or coach,” Glover said. “If they really have a great showing or some players coming back, we will invite them back. We brought back Raymond, Miss., and we were going to bring back Centennial Corona (in 2020), but we had a COVID year and didn’t play. We like that [United] are crowd pleasers, and people really liked Beaumont last year. They put up 40 points in the first quarter and people were like, ‘Who is this team?’ We try to lock into that and feed into it.”

This year’s field includes teams from Southern California, New York City, Washington, D.C., Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Virginia and Florida.

As always, Pine Bluff High School is the host team and is joined by in-state mates White Hall, just down the road from Pine Bluff, Mils University Studies (in Little Rock) and Jonesboro. The Hurricane, who moved up to Class 6A this year, were the Class 5A Arkansas state champions last winter and finished the season ranked No. 23 in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 rankings.

“Jonesboro is the very first team I called,” Glover said. “I said [Coach Wes Swift], ‘We need you now at the King Cotton.’ He agreed, and I see them almost like Michigan State and Tom Izzo – they play great defense, rebound and play hard. They’ve got good shooting in the paint and are a good, solid team. I look for them to go far.”

Swift was unaware that he was Glover’s first call but was honored to hear from him.

“Being asked to play in that level of a tournament makes you feel good about your program,” he said. “We are extremely grateful to be invited.”

The Hurricane are no strangers to prestigious tournaments. They played in the longstanding Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tenn., last year, taking a win against Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic in the first round before falling to Amarillo, Texas, in the second round. JHS beat Tampa Catholic before ending the tournament with a loss to Orlando, Fla., powerhouse Dr. Phillips.

In 2013, Swift’s team advanced to the semifinals of the renowned Whataburger Classic in Dallas.

Mills lost in last season’s Class 4A Arkansas state semifinals to Magnolia on a buzzer-beater by Darrian Ford, SBLive’s Arkansas Player of the Year and current University of Arkansas freshman forward. Comets coach Raymond Cooper hopes playing against a star-studded field in December will help his team advance one game further than it did last season.

“It is kind of like a home game because they are coming from so far, and we will be well-rested,” Mills coach Raymond Cooper said. “Hopefully, our guys will be prepared to make a good showing. It is exciting to play against teams with a lot of notoriety. It lets you find out where you are. It helps you prepare for the state tournament.

“I always front-load my schedule to play the toughest teams we can possibly play. Nothing is better for that than this.”

Cooper said he is also happy for his players to get the exposure the Classic brings. It helped at least a handful of under-recruited players be seen by college coaches last December and earn offers. White Hall 6-6 sophomore forward Jai’chaunn Hayes, who has an offer from Ole Miss, raised eyebrows playing in the tournament last season and hopes for an even better showing this year with an improved Bulldogs team, which is coached by his dad, Josh, who starred at Little Rock Parkview and played at Ole Miss and the University of Central Arkansas.

“Last year, even though I had a pretty good King Cotton, I feel like I need to prove myself way more,” he said. “This year, I feel like our team can make a statement and win some games and go further. Even if you can hang around with some of these teams, it can help capitalize your season and give your team higher expectations.” 

For more information and to buy tickets beginning Nov. 1, go to kingcottonclassic.org.

2022 King Cotton Holiday Classic Field

 Beaumont United High School Timberwolves (Beaumont, Texas)

* Coach: David Green

* Led 2021-22 team to back-to-back 5A state championships 

* 6-4 SG Wesley Yates (class of 2023) is committed to Washington. A consensus 4-star recruit, he is considered the No. 2 SG in the nation by 247Sports.

Bishop O’Connell High School Knights (Arlington, Virginia)

*Coach: Joe Wootten

*Led Bishop O’Connell to five Virginia state independent titles and has been named Arlington County Coach of the Year four times 

*He is the son of legendary DeMatha coach Morgan Wootten.

*Coach Wootten is entering his 24th year of coaching and has 493 wins over 23 years.

* 6-6 PF Jayden Harris (Class of 2024) is ranked #116.

* 6-5 G Adam Oumiddoch (class of 2026) is one of the top prospects in his class and has already received an offer from Illinois.

Elkins High School Knights (Missouri City, Texas)

* Coach: Albert Thomas

* Leads a team with four returners from last year’s team

* Entering his 18th year as head coach, Thomas was named Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2018.

* 6-5 W Jae’Coby Osborne (class of 2024) is one of the top players in the Houston area.

* 6-5 F Christopher Barnett (class of 2023) was 1st team All-District in 2022.

Greenforest-McCalep Christian Academic Center Eagles (Decatur, Georgia)

* Coach: Rory Griffin

* Led his team to a state title last season with a record of 28-4 (15-0 in region play). They ended the season on a 24-game winning streak.

* 7-0 PF DK Manyiel (class of 2023) is committed to Georgia State after receiving offers from multiple SEC schools.

* 7-0 C Gai Chol (class of 2023) is committed to Mississippi State after receiving offers from Auburn, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

* The school produced former Razorback Abayomi “Baybe” Iyiola.

Grissom High School Tigers (Huntsville, Alabama)

* Coach: Jack Doss

* Led his team to a 24-6 record last season, ranking the Tigers No. 3 in Class 3A 

* Doss is a legendary basketball coach, winning 10 Alabama state basketball championships, the most in state history.

* 6-3 CG R.J. Johnson (class of 2023) is committed to Alabama.

Jonesboro High School Golden Hurricanes (Jonesboro, Arkansas)

* Coach: Wes Swift

* Led his team to 2022 and 2021 state championships in Class 5A 

* Last year’s team had a 28-3 record.

* 6-8 W Isaac Harrell (class of 2023) is committed to Elon University.

* 6-4 G Quion Williams (class of 2022 alum) is a freshman at Oklahoma State.

McEachern High School Indians (Powder Springs, Georgia)

* Coach: Tremayne Anchrum

* 6-9 C J.D Palm (class 2025) is ranked #11 nationally.

* 6-9 PF Airious Bailey (class of 2024) is ranked #5 nationally.

* 6-3 PG Moses Hipps (class of 2024) is ranked #127 nationally.

* 6-3 PG Jamichael Davis (class of 2023) has offers from Wichita State, Rutgers and Auburn.

* 6-5 W Jalen Hillard (class of 2023) is considering Southern Illinois.

* 6-1 PG Christian Curl (class of 2025) is ranked 5th in his class in Georgia.

Mills University Studies High School Comets (Little Rock, Arkansas)

* Coach: Raymond Cooper

* Entering his 10th season, Cooper has led his team to five consecutive state championships, leading his 21-22 team to a 22-8 mark (13-1 in conference play).

* Seven players are returning this season.

* Players to watch: Jaylon Ento, Zaylin Rowland, Dylan Parks and QJ King 

Newton High School Rams (Covington, Georgia)

* Coach: Charlemagne Gibbons

* Led his team to a 24-6 record last season, making it to the Final Four in class 7A, winning the AllState Sugar Bowl classic last year 

* 6-7 G Stephen Castle (class of 2023) is No. 20 in 247Sports’ Composite Rankings and is committed to UConn.

* 6-4 G Jakai Newton (class 2023) is ranked #64 nationally and committed to Indiana.

* 6-2 SG Marcus Whitlock (class of 2023) is ranked #15 in Georgia and has offers from UAB, Grambling, North Carolina A&T and Presbyterian College.

Pine Bluff High School Zebras (Pine Bluff, Arkansas)

* Coach: Billy Dixon

* Led last year’s team to a 21-7 record, undefeated in conference play

* 6-3 G Courtney Crutchfield (class of 2024) is also a wide receiver for the football team.

 Sidwell Friends Quakers (Washington, DC)

* Coach: Eric Singletary

* Singletary was named the 2021-22 Winter All-Met Coach of the Year by the Washington Post and DCSAA Boys Basketball Class AA Coach of the Year.

* A Sidwell alumnus, Singletary led his team to its first Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference championship since 2016.

* Ranked No. 13 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 2 in the region by The Washington Post 

* Sidwell Friends is returning nine players from last season’s 29-2 team.

* 6-7 F Caleb Williams (class of 2024) is ranked #135 nationally and has 20 D1 offers.

Silsbee High School Tigers (Silsbee, Texas)

* Coach: Joe Sigler

* Enters his 26th season as Silsbee’s head coach 

* He led his team to a 32-7 record, undefeated in conference play last year.

* 6-2 G Jared Harris (class of 2024) is ranked #47 nationally and has offers from TCU, Auburn, Houston, Kansas State and LSU, according to 247Sports.

St. John Bosco High School Braves (Bellflower, California)

* Coach: Matt Dunn

* Led his team to a 22-10 record last season  

* 6-3 CG Elzie Harrington (class of 2025) is ranked #5 nationally, #1 in California.

* 6-4 G Jack Turner (class of 2024) is committed to Loyola Chicago.

* 6-7 F Kade Bonam (class of 2025) is ranked top 10 for his class in California.

* This year’s team will play on a new basketball court for the first time since 1960.

South Shore High School Vikings (Brooklyn, New York)

* Coach: Shawn Mark

* Three-time NYC PSAL AA Champions 

* 6-5 W Kyorne Alexander (class of 2023) holds multiple mid-major offers.

White Hall High School Bulldogs (White Hall, Arkansas)

* Coach: Josh Hayes

* Hired in April 2020, Hayes replaced Marc Stringer, who passed away after battling cancer.

* Hayes has overseen a turnaround for the program, going from 5-19 in 2020-21 to 8-18 in 21-22. They are poised for continued improvement this season.

* He led eStem to a 25-14 record in 2019.

* A 1999 Little Rock Parkview graduate, Hayes played at Ole Miss and Central Arkansas.

* 6-6 PF Jai’chaunn Hayes (class of 2025), son of the head coach, is one of the top players in Arkansas. He holds an offer from Ole Miss. 

Windermere High School Wolverines (Windermere, Florida)

* Coach: Mark Griseck

* The Wolverines are coming off a 21-7 season.

* They are ranked #4 in Florida’s 7A District 5.

* The town of Windermere is recovering from the effects of Hurricane Ian.