16th Annual Basketball Academy Presented by State Farm Set for January 26-28, 2012 at Coppin State

Jan. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- (Baltimore, MD) –Returning for its 16th year, The Basketball Academy is the largest and most-successful program of its kind - immersing high school athletes in academics, financial literacy, Rites of Passage, cultural enrichment and competitive basketball games. This year, the Basketball Academy will host some of the most exciting high school matches of the year, including the following games presented by Under Armour:

Dunbar vs. Milford Mill at 8 p.m. on Thursday
Patterson vs. Largo at 9:15 on Friday night, where nationally-ranked point guard Aquille Carr of Patterson will go head-to-head with top-ranked Point Guard Derrick Colter of Prince George’s County’s Largo High School.
Dunbar vs. Friendly at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday

One of the most-anticipated match-ups of the Academy is Patterson vs. St. Frances, presented by State Farm at 8 p.m. on Saturday night where Carr from Patterson and nationally ranked Point Guard DaQuan Cook of St. Frances will offer an exciting competition.

There won’t be a dull moment at the Academy, with statewide anticipation building around the boys’ and girls’ matches and the performance by All-star Center Brionna Jones of Aberdeen High School, who competes on Friday and Saturday.

The full game schedule is on the following page.

The Academy is a 501(c) 3 organization that aims to prepare students for the SATs and the college process, while exposing middle and high school players to competitive basketball teams from Baltimore City, Baltimore, Harford and Prince George’s counties. Basketball Academy “graduates” include several NBA and NCAA division 1 players such as Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies) and Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies).

Presented by State Farm, the Academy will be held January 26-28 at Coppin State University Physical Education Complex located at 2500 West North Avenue, Baltimore, MD.

Tickets for the Basketball Academy cost $10 per day. Children under five years old are admitted free. Tickets will be available at Coppin State University one hour prior to the start of the first game. Advanced tickets can be purchased at participating schools or by calling 410-396-8569.

Awards
The Basketball Academy’s partners and sponsors have traditionally awarded approximately $8,000 in scholarships to deserving students annually. The awards are offered in the following categories and more:

Individual outstanding player MVP - awards for a player from each team.
Scholar Athlete Award - $200 savings bond is awarded to one individual from each participating team.
Downtown Locker Room Award - $500 scholarship is awarded to one male and female senior athlete with the highest GPA.
James Thomas Hubbard Award - $1000 scholarship is awarded to one male and female senior athlete.
Over the past 15 years, the Basketball Academy has awarded approximately $90,000 in scholarships to outstanding student athletes.

Game Schedule

Thursday, January 26, 2012

3:00 pm   Poly vs. Randallstown (G)
4:15 pm   Dunbar vs. Woodlawn (G)  
5:30 pm   City College vs. Randallstown (B)
6:45 pm   Digital Harbor vs. Patterson Mills (B)
8:00 pm   Dunbar vs. Milford Mill (B) presented by Under Armour

Friday, January 27, 2012

3:00 pm   Edgewood vs. Randallstown (B)
4:15 pm   Digital Harbor vs. Aberdeen (G)
5:30 pm   City College vs. New Town (B)
6:45 pm   Edmondson/Westside vs. Friendly (B)
8:00 pm   Lake Clifton vs. Owings Mills (B)
9:15 pm   Patterson vs. Largo (B) presented by Under Armour

Saturday, January 28, 2012

10:00am  Randallstown vs. Digital Harbor G)
11:15am  New Town vs. Digital Harbor (B)
12:30pm  Woodlawn vs. Poly (G)
1:45 pm   Aberdeen vs. Dunbar (G)
3:00 pm   Owings Mills vs. Patterson Mill (B)
4:15 pm   Edgewood vs. Edmondson/Westside (B)
5:30 pm   Friendly vs. Dunbar (B) presented by Under Armour
6:45 pm   Milford Mill vs. Lake Clifton (B)
8:00 pm   Patterson vs. St. Frances (B) presented by State Farm

* Home Team is indicated in bold

About the Basketball Academy
The Basketball Academy is a 501(c) 3 based in Baltimore, Maryland, made possible by a committee of volunteers from The City of Baltimore, Baltimore City Public Schools, the Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the 100 Black Men of Maryland, Inc.  Sponsors include State Farm, Under Armour, DTLR, and 92Q Jams. More information can be found at www.bballacademy.com.

# # #

Think Brown INK is a bold and savvy communications firm powered by a few creative geniuses. We provide writing, public relations and marketing support for various industries. We can be a complete communications source, or manage specific programs.