The spirits of unity and community were joined in support of both Seattle Pacific and its neighboring high schools.
Seattle Pacific University basketball hosted the MLK Day Classic on Monday, Jan. 20, welcoming 14 high schools onto its home court.
The event was a pet project for Keffrey Fazio, the men’s basketball head coach, and Karen Byers, the interim head coach for women’s basketball. It is intended to be the first of an annual effort to bring the basketball community in the Seattle Area together in celebration of the game and of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“It’s something that Karen and I have been talking about for a couple of years,” Fazio said. “Lots of different groups have hosted the MLK showcases. I thought it’d be great for SPU to open our doors to our community, have high school kids in our gym and celebrate Dr King. I want to give people who are not from SPU a nice day of high school basketball. ”
The classic hosted Ballard High School, Mercer Island High School, Bainbridge High School, Port Angeles High School, Eisenhower High School, West Seattle High School, Kentridge High School, Seattle Prep High School, Kentwood High School, Arlington High School, Roosevelt High School, and Woodinville High School.
In the spirit of honoring Dr. King and other prominent black figures in history, Seattle Pacific’s Black Student Union and Multi-Ethnic Program were invited to share stories and speeches during halftimes to highlight the life and legacy of Dr. KING and those who supported his mission, such as Rosa Parks.
“We wanted it not just to be about basketball,” Byers said. “We wanted it to be about the reason for today and why it’s a national holiday, so we asked those groups to become involved. It’s also a bridge, not only from men’s to women’s basketball to the community but also sports to those minority groups and other things on SPU.”
Glen Dean, a director and coach for the Amateur Athletic Union, attended the event scouting for talent and showing support for SPU. Dean shared how the event mirrored his youth when similar events previously hosted by SPU were sold out and filled with excitement.
“When I was in high school in the Seattle area, Seattle Pacific used to have Martin Luther King Day events where high schools would come in and play,” Dean said. “It’s really cool that the program is getting back to that and giving these high school kids a chance to play on a college court. This definitely has the ability to grow into something a lot bigger.”
Dean said the event is also important for the mindset and encouragement of rising high school basketball players.
“You want the kids to feel like playing at this level is tangible, and giving them [the opportunity of] playing on this court and being on these lines is a cool experience,” Dean said. “Being here and getting the chance to play on a court in a space like this is big and keeps them motivated and inspired.”
Participants in the classic, such as Lorenzo Durant III, head coach for boys’ basketball at Ballard High School, were grateful for the experience.
“That was a good opportunity for them, so they can see what the atmosphere is like in Division II,” Durant said. “I’m glad the players got to feel that experience, especially with where we are in our season. This was a good eye-opener for them, and you can hear how excited they are.”
Gavin Klassen-Matusk, a junior forward on the Ballard boys’ basketball team, plans to pursue basketball into college and was thankful for the glimpse into the experience he gained from participating in the classic.
“It was fun. I saw a lot of people in the crowd. It was interesting because, hopefully, I can do it again in a couple of years,” Klassen-Matusk. “I’ve been looking at SPU, but I’m just trying to keep getting better and keep working, trying to get ahead.”
The MLK Day Classic was an inaugural community-uniting experiment meant to bridge the gap between SPU sports and its greater community on and around its campus. More than celebrating Dr. King, the event honored his legacy by presenting a unity of people who appreciate their connection through a sport they love.
MLK Day Classic results:
(B) Ballard defeated Mercer Island, 53-47
(G) Ballard lost to Bainbridge, 45-31
(B) Port Angeles defeated Eisenhower, 50-41
(B) West Seattle defeated Kentridge, 51-48
(G) Seattle Prep defeated Kentwood, 65-42
(B) Seattle Prep defeated Arlington, 83-66
(B) Roosevelt vs Woodinville, 57-48
