UNC Star Tyler Hansbrough at the Holmes Center?

31st Annual Carolina Barnstorming Tour Comes to Boone April 9

Story by David Brewer

The star-studded basketball event will feature some of the ACC’s top names including, from left, 2008 National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and fellow UNC-Chapel Hill star Danny Green, as well as Duke University standout Greg Paulus.

After three months of stellar college basketball action, March Madness is finally here—the pinnacle of collegiate hoops when buzzer beaters break hearts seemingly every night. And while most people won’t get much closer to the action than their living room, some of the ACC’s biggest stars will hit the hardwood right here in the High Country after the NCAA tournament wraps up.

On Thursday, April 9, the Carolina Barnstorming Tour will stop at ASU’s Holmes Convocation Center. The star-studded basketball event will feature some of the ACC’s top names including 2008 National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and fellow UNC-Chapel Hill stars Danny Green and Bobby Frasor, as well as Duke University standout Greg Paulus.

For the past 31 years, the Sumner Group has sponsored and coordinated the ACC All-Star Barnstorming Tour across the southeastern United States. During that time, the tour has featured such players as Michael Jordan, Len Bias and Dereck Whittenburg to name a few. This year’s squad of UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke seniors promises to be one of the most exciting in the tour’s history.

To better represent this year’s cast of players, the Sumner Group has dubbed this year’s event the Carolina Barnstorming Tour. All participating players, opponents and sites will be in the state of North Carolina. The 2009 tour will consist of eight games in three weeks, following the completion of the NCAA Final Four in April.

Taking on the Carolina Barnstorming squad at the Holmes Center will be the High Country All-Stars—a stacked team featuring western North Carolina’s best round ball talent from ASU, Lees-McRae, UNC-Asheville, Western Carolina University and others.

In addition to the game, each stop will also feature an autograph session prior to the game, as well as a halftime 3-point shootout and a dunk contest. Proceeds from each game will aid in the construction of a brand new Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte. Additional proceeds will also benefit host high schools’ athletic departments.

General admission tickets to the Carolina Barnstorming Tour are $10 in advance and $12.50 at the door. VIP tickets are $25 and are the first four rows of Section 3 and Section 11. VIP Seats include access to a private reception in the hospitality room for the players immediately after the game.

Purchase tickets at the Holmes Center box office and the Plemmons Student Union box office, by phone at 828-262-6603 or by clicking to www.theholmescenter.com. For more info, click to www.theholmescenter.com.

Big Time Talent Hits the Holmes Center Hardwood

For true basketball fans, the Holmes Center will be the only game in town on Thursday, April 9, as UNC-Chapel Hill superstar Tyler Hansbrough leads the Carolina Barnstorming Tour Squad against the High Country All-Stars. In addition to the game, there will be a slam drunk contest and 3-point shoot-out.

Carolina Barnstorming Tour Squad

Tyler Hansbrough (UNC Chapel Hill)
Danny Green (UNC Chapel Hill)
Bobby Frasor (UNC Chapel Hill)
Jack Wooten (UNC Chapel Hill)
Mike Copeland (UNC Chapel Hill)
J.B. Tanner (UNC Chapel Hill)
Patrick Moody (UNC Chapel Hill)
Greg Paulus (Duke)

High Country All-Stars

Eddie Bermudez (ASU)
Jeremy Clayton (ASU)
Ochigbo Ameh (Lees-McRae)
Joe Chilton (Brevard College)
Jermon Walsh (Warren Wilson College)
Shawn Creal (Limestone College)
MJ Njoku (Montreat College)
PJ Gore (Mars Hill College)
Akeene Coakley (Mars Hill College)
Reid Augst (UNC Asheville)
Jason Ridenhour (UNC Asheville)
Tim Magowan (Western Carolina University)

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