The Capital Classic has been a tradition for high school basketball in this area since 1974. It showcases a US All-Star team against the Washington Area's best high school players. Typically a few other players are added to the local roster. I remember growing up and hearing the stories, of Moses Malone, and Magic Johnson playing in the Capital Classic. I remember the excitement of Duke alumni prior to Coach K, as the top player in the nation, Gene Banks from West Philadelphia HS signed with the Blue-Devils and played in the Classic. I recall prior to my college days at Georgetown, the excitement in the DC area with the coming of Albert King to College Park, and the Capital Classic.
In my freshman year at Georgetown I remember talking my RA into helping me charter some GUTS buses to the Capital Centre. The end of the college basketball season had left us wanting to see more basketball. We were able to charter about 6 GUTS buses. As we sat in Healey circle, we talked about the just completed NCAA tournament, and then headed off to Landover, Maryland. It was one of the greatest Capital Classics ever as Ralph Sampson led the Capital All-Stars to a close victory over the US All-Stars led by Clark Kellogg (Ohio State), Sam Bowie (Kentucky), and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins (the Human Highlight Film). In my sophomore year, the game was much less hyped, but a few of us still drove out to Capital Centre to see the Classic that featured future Celtic coach Doc Rivers. We all thought that we would never again see an event like the Ralph Sampson-Dominique Wilkins Capital Classic. Then came the 1981 Classic. Georgetown had already recruited a monster power forward Ralph Dalton, along with McDonald's All-Americans Bill Martin and Anthony Jones. Anthony Jones from DC Dunbar HS was the Washington Post Player of the Year and one of the primary targets of Dean Smith's UNC Tar Heels and every major college team. Hopes were high already for the 1981-82 Hoyas as in 1980 we had lost a close game to Iowa in the Elite 8. However, the big news came when Patrick Ewing, the most highly recruited HS player of that generation announced that he would attend Georgetown. Immediately the Capital Center was sold out. I gathered my old RA and freshman year floor-mates at Loyola (now LXR) to buy tickets for the game. We soon realized there were not enough GUTS buses to take all the students who wanted to go to the game. There were a few buses chartered and the Hoya students were on our way. I still remember the Capital All-Stars taking the court as Bill Martin, Anthony Jones, and Patrick Ewing did 360 dunks one after another. Little did I realize that seeing a late bloomer from North Carolina, Michael Jordan, have a break out game was a sign of things to come. Indeed Patrick Ewing was the MVP of the Capital Classic, and we all had seen the beginning of the Hoyas playing in three of four national championship games.
The Capital Classic has evolved over the years and has played in many different venues including the MCI Center, Smith Center, Patriot Center, Comcast Center, and Bender Arena. There are now many HS All-Star games across the country with the McDonald's All-American Game being the biggest. There have been many recent stars over the last few years including Shaquille O'Nell, and LeBron James who played in the last Classic at Verizon Center. After Michael Jordan parted ways with the Washington Wizards he took the now Jordan Brand Classic to NYC leaving Washington, DC. However, a group has kept the Capital Classic alive here. It is now a different event, but no other HS All-Star game can boast the tradition, and the alumni that the Capital Classic has. So if you have completed your taxes like I just did last night, and still long to see some good basketball head out to AU's Bender Arena on April 15th. For the HoyaNation we will see a glimpse of our future team as Markel Starks, Nate Lubick, and Moses Abraham take the court. Look for me as we lead the cheer of "Hoya Saxa!"
Remember to attend the Men's Basketball Banquet on April 20th at Georgetown University's Leavey Center. To register go to:https://alumni.georgetown.edu/default.aspx?Page=EVNTEventDetail&EventID=1918
For info on the Capital Classic go to:http://www.thecapitalclassic.com/site8.aspx
Dr. Thomas A. Wong
Vice-President Hoya Hoop Club-Communications
Proud Member of Generation Ewing
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