11 years later Slam Dunk prestige still alive

The 2014 Slam Dunk to the Beach basketball tournament at Cape Henlopen High School exceeded expectations and put the once prestigious event back on the map. Most left the Cape Region happy with the revitalized version and confident Slam Dunk will once again become top high school tournament.

“The atmosphere is much better than a lot of the tournaments that we go to, and the amount of people was really good,” said Christ the King High coach Joe Arbitello, who played in the original iteration of the tournament in 1994.

Christ the King is a private school from Queens, N.Y., with notable NBA alumni like Lamar Odom and Speedy Claxton. Christ the King was part of the tournament's 16-team field, featuring teams from seven states and Washington, D.C.

Herman Harried, coach of Baltimore's Lake Clifton High School, said it is only a matter of time before Slam Dunk is back among the top tournaments in the country.

“At one time it was one of the best events nationally, and I know with the group of people that's running it now, it'll get back there,” he said. “I think once more people realize it's back, everyone will want to attend. It's going to be back in no time.”

Bobby Jacobs ran the tournament in its original 13-year run in the 1990s and early 2000s. His event built up a reputation of being a top-level tournament, with many of the country's top schools playing each year. During the original run, Slam Dunk brought to Lewes high school-aged LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Tayshaun Prince before it disbanded prior to the 2004 event.

Eleven years later, with Jacobs no longer involved, the Delaware Sports Commission brought the tournament back, injecting life into the Cape Region during the holiday break that had been quiet since the Bay Ball Classic – Slam Dunk's successor – ended in 2009. Cape had been traveling to Salisbury, Md., the last few seasons to play in the Governor's Challenge at the Wicomico Civic Center. But with a tournament in their own gym, the Vikings were given an opportunity to play in the same field as high quality opponents. Also asked to compete were Delaware's Sanford, Salesianum, St. Georges Tech and Caesar Rodney. The rest of the field was filled out by teams traveling from throughout the country.

“We tried to explain to our players the prestige of this tournament,” said CR coach Freeman Williams. “This event meant a lot to a lot of people, whether it be the community or the players who participated in it. We are very appreciative to be the team they picked to restart this great tradition.”

Sanford coach Stan Waterman said the tournament seemed familiar.

“There's some good competition,” he said. “It's reminiscent of some of the teams that were here many years ago when the tournament was in its heyday. So it's good to see that kind of competition back in this tournament and we're happy to be apart of it.”

Details for the 2015 tournament are still being worked out, but it is expected Slam Dunk will be back again, as the Delaware Sports Commission works to build on the success of this year's resurgence. For full tournament results, go to www.slamdunktothebeach.com.