MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Boys basketball teams from across the country are in Myrtle Beach, competing in the 35th annual Beach Ball Classic.
The event alone has grown a lot since it first started in 1981, but one thing has stayed the same. The 6-day tournament features some of the premier high school basketball teams in the nation.
The tournament has hosted many future NBA stars including Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which keeps fans coming back year after year.
“This is my 22nd straight year,” said big-time basketball fan, Ben Dunn.
“It’s my can of worms, I just love it,” said Dunn, and it all goes back to his own playing days.
“I played for Andrews High School and went on and played at Emmaunal College,” he said. Dunn even made it in the schools basketball hall of fame as part of the 1959-60 team.
The retired judge travels to Myrtle Beach each year with a group of friends to support the tournament and it’s players.
“I just like good basketball. I like to see the kids come around, show their talent and people can watch them. And they can improve their education by going to college,” remarked Dunn.
The trio had been a quartet until recently, but one of Dunn’s good friends passed away in a boating accident.
“We’ll often think about him, pretty much every day we’re at the Beach Ball Classic. Knowing he’d love to be here,” said Dunn.
The Beach Ball Classic was the first event of it’s type ever held in the state and it’s been growing ever since.
“We had no earthly idea it would become today,” said Executive Director and Myrtle Beach Mayor, John Rhodes.
This year’s tournament can be seen in a record 170 television markets around the nation.
“It means exposure for the city, I mean you’re talking about 20 games being televised nationally from South Carolina,” said Rhodes.
That’s all part of bigger local trend. “We’ve been given the credit for starting sports tourism in Myrtle Beach,” said Rhodes.
Mayor Rhodes says its an industry that has taken off in the last 10 years. “We’ve gone from $20 million when I first took office, to $170 million this past year.”
For fans like Dunn the dollars and cents don’t matter nearly as much as the action on the court, “love basketball, love the Beach Ball Classic.”
Mayor Rhodes says he expects the sports tourism industry to continue to grow. 2014 saw $156 million in direct economic impact while 2015 saw $170 million and eventually Rhodes hopes to see $200 million annually. The Beach Ball Classic continues through Thursday, December 31.
