Why We Are Thankful For Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational
From December 27-30, Wilmington, North Carolina will play host a national basketball tournament as Phenom Hoops brings the 1st Annual Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational. The historic Brogden Hall at New Hanover High School, which holds 3,500 fans will have 16 Top 150 ranked prospects, 3 nationally ranked teams, and players who are committed to schools like UNC, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Washington.
As we countdown to the start of Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational, each day we will give another reason why we are thankful for the Joe Miller Invitational.
14 Days Until Phenom’s Joe Miller
Reason #14
Historic Basketball History at New Hanover High School
New Hanover High School may be the most storied basketball program in the state of North Carolina. Not only have they produced NBA talent, they have a line of Top 100 prospects, as well as countless players go on to play college basketball.
However, the history comes in the amount of winning the school has done. New Hanover High School holds the most state championships in North Carolina Men’s High School basketball history with 14. Durham High School (now defunct) is second on the list with 13. Kinston High School (also playing in Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational) carries the second most of any active school, with 10.
New Hanover’s most recent state title came in 2011-12 when they went on a 30-1 run to upset their way all the way through the tournament. New Hanover’s Kadeem Allen (now a starter for Top 25 ranked University of Arizona), was named playoff MVP.
Prior to that 11-12 win, New Hanover won the state title in 2007. That 2007 team some call the most talented and athletic team of the 2000s, in North Carolina. They had Top 10 prospect Ty Walker (Wake Forest), 6’8” David Pelham (George Washington), point guard James Beattie (Rutgers), Nic Becton (San Diego Chargers), George Bryan (NC State Tight End), and others.
Many may not know (or realize), but Wilmington is a very basketball savvy town. A town who loves good basketball. When you walk into Brogden Hall, at New Hanover High School, take a minute. Look around. Absorb all of the banners and trophies. The arena’s lobby area is a great shrine to the successes the school has seen on the basketball court.
The feel of Brogden Hall is magical, and when the stands get full and the crowd gets rocking it has a surreal feel. Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational, December 27-30 will bring a caliber and a depth of talent that Wilmington has not seen before. Come out and take it all in.