The 49th annual Eastern Carolina Classic is set to commence Friday afternoon at Beddingfield High School, marking a significant milestone in high school basketball. This event, which holds the unique distinction of being the second oldest holiday tournament in the region, will see the Greenfield School Knights participating for the ninth time in the tradition-laden John Wall Holiday Invitational, originally known as The Raleigh Times Holiday Festival that started in 1972.
Greenfield, currently boasting an impressive record of 12-2, is ranked fifth in the state by MaxPreps.com and at the top of the NCISAA 2-A rankings. They are scheduled to face Petersburg High from Virginia at 2:30 p.m. as part of the Day’ron Sharpe Bracket, named for the former South Central High and UNC player making waves in the NBA. The opposing teams for the Knights would either be Southern Durham or Highland High of Warrenton, Virginia, based on the outcomes of their games.
The Knights previously competed in the John Wall Holiday Invitational in 2021 and 2022, and they were notably led by Chicago Bulls star Coby White when they reached the title game in 2017, setting a tournament scoring record that still stands. The main bracket at the John Wall is named in his honor, highlighting the tournament’s enduring legacy.
Aside from the John Wall Tournament, the Eastern Carolina Classic will kick off at 5 p.m. with an exciting lineup of games. The Hunt-Fike girls will be first on the court, followed by a second semifinal featuring Beddingfield against Princeton. The series of games will conclude with the boys’ matchup between the Bruins and Princeton.
The basketball festivities will continue Saturday with the girls’ consolation game at 6 p.m., followed by the Hunt-Fike boys at 7:30 p.m., ensuring that local fans are treated to a thrilling weekend of competition.
In addition, Wilson Prep’s boys and girls teams are actively participating in the Goldsboro Christmas Tournament. The girls team played against Wake Prep on Friday morning, while the boys were set to clash with Clayton later in the day. Meanwhile, Tarboro High will host the Edgecombe County Holiday Classic with an exciting matchup between SouthWest Edgecombe and Southern Nash girls, kicking off at 1 p.m., followed by the Cougar boys against North Edgecombe.
This year’s holiday tournaments provide a wonderful opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills and for communities to come together in celebration of sport and camaraderie, setting a festive tone for the basketball season.