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Hartville invited to play in prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions

Field features top talent from all over the country

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In losing just one senior from a 31-2 Class 2 state championship basketball team, it seemed destined for the Hartville Eagles boys program to get a long awaited invite to the prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

Fortunately, the hard work has paid off for the Eagles as it was announced last Wednesday that Hartville’s outstanding program has been added to the 2021 field that will compete Jan. 14-16 at the JQH Arena.

Hartville is reportedly replacing Philadelphia Roman Catholic in the eight-team field.

“We are extremely honored and excited to get the opportunity to play in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions,” said Hartville head boys basketball coach Brett Reed. “The boys had a tremendous season in 2019-20 and earned a chance to play in this prestigious tournament.”  

Hartville was selected one other time to play in the Tournament of Champions in the school’s rich basketball history.

“There have been many great teams and players come through this program, and to only have been selected twice in history just shows how special this invitation really is,” Reed said.

The Eagles will get the opportunity to test their style of basketball against schools with nationally-ranked high school recruits.

They include Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) with UCLA committed Will McClendon; IMG Academy from Bradenton, Fla., the 2019 Geico National High School champions who have three players ranked nationally in the Top 10; Pace Academy, from Atlanta, Ga., that state’s Class AAA champions; and Sunrise Christian Academy, of Bel Aire, Kan., who has three nationally ranked players.

Greenwood, a team Hartville is very familiar with due to postseason match-ups the last two years, and a Kickapoo squad they beat last year, are the two other local programs competing in the annual event.

St. Louis Desmet, who placed second in Class 5, round out the eight team field.

A lot of current and former NBA players saw their high school careers take them to the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

Some players include Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons, Bradley Beal, John Wall, Marvin Bagley III and Alonzo Mourning.