Thought you'd seen the last of UNC's national championship trio of Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green and Bobby Frasor?
Not so fast. The senior threesome will take the court at Barton College's Wilson Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Those three, along with four senior Tar Heel walk-ons, will take on a team of area all-stars from Wilson and Lenoir counties in the latest edition of the UNC Seniors Tour.
Gerald Garner, who brought the tour to Lenoir County several times in the past decade, is the organizer who has brought the game to Wilson this year.
"They're great ambassadors for the university,"
Garner said of the UNC seniors. "To see big-time athletics come to a small town like this is rewarding."
Garner, who was the head basketball coach and athletics director at Bethel Christian Academy during the 2007-08 academic year, was hired as the athletics director and principal at Wilson's Community Christian School this year. It's CCS that is hosting the event at Barton.
The Cyclone All-Stars - featuring a number of former BCA players, including Jordan O'Neal, Aaron Wells and Eric Pitts - will be coached by BCA's Gary O'Neal. More than 2,000 tickets have already been sold, but Garner is holding a limited number of tickets - up to 150 or so - to be sold at the door for $15.
Garner said the event is going to be used as a church recruiting tool.
"We hope it has a bonding effect that will continue to spread the name of Community Christian School,"
said Garner, who has brought the UNC Senior Tour to Kinston, Kenansville and Goldsboro - among other areas - 15 of the last 17 years.
Garner, who has taught and coached in Lenoir, Duplin, Wayne and Wilson counties during the past 36 years, said he has enjoyed his time at CCS, a school of 329 students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
"It's been a great marriage so far,"
Garner said. "The non-denominational aspect of the school is much more suitable for me. The Free Will Baptist doctrine (taught at BCA) is great, but we're non-denominational; it's less rigid and more flexible. It's been a real good fit for me."
His administrator at CCS, Paula Webb, has been impressed with Garner's performance.
"He's doing a fine job with our athletic and academic programs,"
Webb said of Garner. "He's had some great ideas. He's brought 36 years of experience, so that speaks volumes."
She also said the excitement throughout her school and Wilson County for Wednesday's event is palpable.
"The kids are elated,"
Webb said. "Knowing that Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green are going to be on our campus has them excited."
CCS chairman of the board Robert Bartlett agreed with Webb.
"It's going to be exciting to know that players from the national championship team will be coming to Wilson,"
Bartlett said. "It's an illustration of how God works in amazing way."
Despite the sellout, CCS won't make much money on the event. Eighty percent of the funds raised will go to the UNC Seniors, while the gym rental fee and security costs will eat up another large portion of the profits.
But Garner, Webb and Bartlett said making money isn't what Wednesday's event is all about.
"We're hoping to get exposure for what (CCS) is all about,"
Garner said, "and that's teaching the gospel."
