Charlotte, N.C. -- The Jay Bilas Skills Camp will be hosting its first Bilas Classic, a college basketball event that will pit the collegiate teams of four of its long-time camp coaches against one another on the campus of Queens University of Charlotte, playing on the same court where they work together each summer at the Jay Bilas Skills Camp. The inaugural event, scheduled for Dec. 20-21, 2022, will feature the men's teams from four schools: Christopher Newport University, Elmhurst University, The College of New Jersey and the University of Lynchburg.
"We can't wait to see four of our top camp coaches from the past nine years of the Jay Bilas Skills Camp take the court with their collegiate teams. If it is half as entertaining as watching them coach against each other in the summer at camp, it is going to be a blast," said Jay Bilas, who co-owns the Jay Bilas Skills Camp with his wife, Wendy, and Camp Director John Searby.
Four of the Top NCAA Division III teams in the country
The coaches squaring off at the 2022 Bilas Classic have over 850 combined career wins and lead four of the top NCAA Division III programs in the country. The field is led by the current #1 ranked team in NCAA Division III, Christopher Newport (VA), led by Coach John Krikorian with over 325 wins, nine conference championships, and nine NCAA tournament appearances,
including two Final Fours. The remainder of the field includes Elmhurst University (IL), led by John Baines (205 wins, two conference championships, four NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2022 National Championship runner-up), University of Lynchburg led by Hilliary Scott (204 wins, one conference championship, and one NCAA tournament appearance), and The College of New Jersey, led by Matt Goldsmith (103 wins, two conference championships, and one NCAA tournament appearance).
A Unique Competitive Experience
For nine years, the Jay Bilas Skills Camp has been bringing an old school skills camp for high school boys to Queens University of Charlotte for a week each June. From the beginning, the camp coaches have been Division III head coaches, Division II coaches, and retired Division I coaches. All four coaches in the Bilas Classic have been coaching at the Jay Bilas Skills Camp a
least five years, which has developed unique bonds amongst the group. And while there is a lot of good-natured teasing and playful competition during the summer, all four coaches are looking forward to seeing each other during the regular season.
"The Bilas Camp family is a special group of people and I'm honored to be part of it. These guys are elite coaches at any level and have built nationally recognized programs. Competing against friends is always tough, but I know our team will get better, and have a lot of fun in Charlotte," said Krikorian.
Scott added, "This is a tremendous opportunity to compete against some of the best programs and coaches in the business, regardless of level. It's even more of a blessing to consider these coaches mentors, peers, and friends. It is a highlight to spend time with all of them each summer at the Jay Bilas Skills Camp. We are humbled to be a part of such a great event."
The schedule for the 2022 Bilas Classic will see Christopher Newport and Elmhurst face off on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m., followed by a matchup between TCNJ and Lynchburg at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 21, Lynchburg will take on Elmhurst at 6 p.m., followed by TCNJ and Christopher Newport at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here:
https://queensathletics.com/sports/2021/10/18/gameday-tickets.aspx
Founded in 2013 by former Duke standout and ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas and former assistant coach John Searby (Gardner-Webb University, Tennessee Tech University, Lincoln Christian University, and Auburn University), the Jay Bilas Skills Camp is one of the few "old school skills camps" left in the country. Focusing on player development at a collegiate level with collegiate coaches on a college campus, the Jay Bilas Skills Camp provides intensive basketball instruction for players, assistant coaches, and aspiring head coaches by bringing some of the best minds in basketball together for an immersive on-campus experience.
For more information, contact:
John Searby, Camp Director
309-989-7476
jsearby@jaybilascamp.com
For more information on the camp:
www.jaybilascamp.com
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