Big Time Hoops Come to The Holmes Center April 9

Carolina Barnstorming Tour Features UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green & More

Story by David Brewer

For weeks, millions of views have been glued to the TV, watching one nail-biting game after another as the drama of the NCAA Tournament plays out on a national stage. While the Atlantic Coast Conference hasn’t enjoyed a very successful run overall, the Tar Heels of UNC-Chapel Hill are headed to the Final Four in Detroit to try and bag their second national title under head coach Roy Williams and their fifth overall. 

On Thursday, April 9, the Carolina Barnstorming Tour will roll into the High Country for a stop at ASU’s Holmes Convocation Center with none other than UNC stars Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green leading the Tar Heel-heavy team into action. The squad also includes UNC’s Bobby Frasor and Mike Copeland, as well as Duke University seniors Greg Paulus and David McClure. Former Wake Forest star and Harlem Globetrotter Antwan Scott was also recently added to the team.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets to the Carolina Barnstorming Tour are $10 in advance and $12.50 at the door. VIP tickets are already sold out.

Taking on the Carolina Barnstorming team will be the High Country All-Stars, a team comprised of the best players from colleges and universities throughout the region including ASU, Lees-McRae, UNC-Asheville, Western Carolina University and others. ASU players suiting up for the awesome display of basketball talent include senior guard Eddie Bermudez and former Mountaineer standout Jeremy Clayton.

In addition to the nonstop action of the game, the Carolina Barnstorming Tour stop will also feature an autograph session prior to the game from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., as well as a halftime 3-point shootout and a dunk contest. Fans will get to witness some high flying dunks as the ACC’s biggest stars throw down, while others will undoubtedly put on a serious outside shooting display.

Merchandise and t-shirts will be available for sale before the autograph signing and throughout the game. A portion of the proceeds from each game will aid in the construction of a brand new Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte.

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.

In addition to playing a key role in the Tar Heels’ current Final Four run, Hansbrough is one of the most decorated players in Carolina history. In his four years in Chapel Hill, Hansbrough has garnered virtually every major national and conference honor including being named the 2008 National Player of the Year and multiple First Team All-ACC selections and First Team All-America selections. In a recent game, Hansbrough toppled former Duke guard J.J. Redick as the highest scoring player in ACC history.

A dominant force in the Tar Heels’ win in the Elite Eight over the Oklahoma Sooners, Green withdrew from the NBA draft and has been one of UNC-Chapel Hill’s most well-rounded players in history. Green is the only Tar Heel ever to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals.

Although she won’t be suiting up for the game, Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson will be on the sidelines serving as the Carolina Barnstorming team’s Honorary Head Coach.

“This is an opportunity for High Country residents to enjoy a great basketball game while benefiting a most worthy charity,” said Clawson in a press release.

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 information, click to www.theholmescenter.com.

Go on a Date with Hansbrough and The Heels!!

During the last two years, the annual Celebrity Serve has raised tens of thousands of dollars for worthy local causes through its silent auction. The hottest item up for bid this year is dinner for two on Thursday, April 9, with the players from the Carolina Barnstorming Tour, including 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough, along with UNC stars Danny Greene and Bobby Frasor, and Duke University seniors Greg Paulus and David McClure, as well as several other players on the all-star squad.

“We’re really excited about the guys from the Carolina Barnstorming Tour getting involved with our community,” said Celebrity Serve Committee member and Makoto’s owner Gwen Dhing. “That’s incredible that they’re offering to do that for us since they’ll be in town already supporting the Ronald McDonald House. I think that our community should go and support their event as well.”

All participating Celebrity Serve restaurants will have sheets where diners can bid on the dinner with the team. If the bidding is close, high bidders will be asked to gather at Makoto’s for a live auction to determine the winner.

Carolina Barnstorming Tour Squad Vs. High Country All-Stars

On Thursday, April 9, just three days after the NCAA Men’s Basketball season wraps, UNC-Chapel Hill superstar Tyler Hansbrough will lead the Carolina Barnstorming Tour Squad against the High Country All-Stars. In addition to the game, there will be a slam dunk contest and 3-point shoot-out.

Carolina Barnstorming Tour Squad

Tyler Hansbrough (UNC)
Danny Green (UNC)
Bobby Frasor (UNC)
Jack Wooten (UNC)
Mike Copeland (UNC)
J.B. Tanner (UNC)
Patrick Moody (UNC)
Greg Paulus (Duke)
David McClure (Duke)
Antwan Scott (Wake Forest, Harlem Globetrotters)

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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