Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy set to host 5th annual Hoop Cities
Basketball teams from across the state will compete
By Tevin Stinson
The Chronicle
Since opening its doors in 2004, Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy (W-S Prep) has been known as one of the best basketball programs in the area. Last season marked the fourth year in a row that the Phoenix played for the Class 1-A championship.
Although the regular season is not set to begin until the end of November, head coach Andre Gould announced that on Nov. 7, the Phoenix will host the 5th annual Hoop Cities Jamboree.
The jamboree is a showcase event that will bring together some of the state’s best basketball programs. In past years, the gym has been packed with basketball fans, hoping to get a glimpse at some of the young talent the state has to offer.
This year’s tournament will feature 12 teams, including schools from Charlotte, Durham and Spencer. Besides W-S Prep, the teams competing in this year’s jamboree will be :Glenn High School, McMichael, R.J. Reynolds, Greensboro Smith, Vance High School, North Stanley, North Rowan, Forest Trail, Prominence Academy, Southern Guilford and Faith Assembly Christian Academy.
Gould, who has been the head coach at W-S Prep since 2004, is confident that all the games during the tournament will be competitive and exciting.
“This will be a great day of preseason basketball,” said Gould. “There will be a lot of talent in the gym all day.”
Since it is a preseason tournament, rules for the jamboree will be different than a regular season game. Instead of playing four quarters, the games during the jamboree will be played in two 20- minute halves with a running clock that will only be stopped during the last minute of each period during dead balls.
Earlier this month, the official schedule for the tournament was released. Games will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue until 8 p.m. Each team will play two games each. Admission into the 5th annual Hoop Cities Jamboree will be $5, and concessions will be sold throughout the day.
For a complete schedule and more information about the Hoop Cities Jamboree, contact Andre Gould after school hours at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy, 1215 N. Cameron Ave.
