For nearly a decade, the Kings of the County Alumni Basketball Tournament has given former Sampson County standouts an opportunity to lace up their sneakers once again, rekindle old rivalries and, most importantly, give back to the next generation of student-athletes.
The ninth annual Kings of the County Alumni Basketball Tournament will be held Saturday, July 25, at Lakewood High School. Alumni teams from Clinton, Lakewood, Midway, Union and Hobbton will compete, with proceeds benefiting Lakewood’s basketball program. This year’s event also marks a significant milestone as women’s alumni teams will participate for the first time, continuing the tournament’s steady growth since its inception.
What began as a simple alumni matchup has evolved into one of Sampson County’s signature summer basketball traditions.
Marcus Graham, Lakewood alumnus and junior varsity boys basketball coach, has helped spearhead the tournament since its early years. He said the idea grew from wanting to bring former players back together while creating something that would directly benefit local basketball programs.
“I felt like it was important to get this thing started and continue to run it,” Graham said. “We wanted to give the community a chance to relive some of those epic battles — Lakewood versus Clinton, Union versus Midway — and let people come out during the summer to watch basketball from athletes they grew up watching.”
Unlike many alumni tournaments, the Kings of the County event serves a larger purpose. Graham said every dollar raised stays within the county by supporting the basketball program at the school hosting the tournament.
“The proceeds go to that program,” Graham said. “That’s why we’ve tried to rotate it so different schools can host and benefit from it.”
Graham said organizers hope to continue rotating hosting duties among the participating schools so each basketball program has an opportunity to benefit financially while keeping the event fresh for alumni and fans alike.
As participation has grown, so have the challenges.
Interest has increased to the point where organizers are exploring ways to accommodate additional players and graduating classes, as more alumni have expressed interest in returning to the court.
“We’re trying to figure out how to get everybody involved,” Graham said. “Everybody wants to play. We may eventually have to separate teams by graduation years or even extend the tournament over multiple days.”
That enthusiasm has been evident throughout the county in recent weeks, with alumni squads organizing practices and open gym sessions in preparation of the tournament.
Graham believes those workouts are about much more than getting back into basketball shape.
“Not everybody played together or played for the same coach,” he said. “They need that practice time to build chemistry so when it comes time to play, they still look like a team instead of just playing pickup basketball.”
Perhaps the biggest addition to this year’s tournament is the inclusion of women’s alumni teams.
The expansion reflects growing interest from former female players who now have an opportunity to represent their schools while supporting today’s student-athletes.
Michael Boykin, Clinton varsity boys basketball coach and alumnus, who has competed in previous tournaments, said adding women’s teams only strengthens an event already rooted in community.
“It’s amazing,” Boykin said. “We always want to do something for the women’s teams so they can come back and play because they don’t really have much to come back to. At the end of the day, it’s about coming back, reminiscing, having some good laughs and playing with your old friends, but we’re really there to make sure those kids have what they need when the season gets here.”
Boykin said his perspective has changed since becoming a head coach because he now sees firsthand the financial needs facing high school athletic programs.
“As a head coach now, I know these student-athletes need more and more things throughout the season,” he said. “Some families don’t always have the funds for everything. The money that’s raised goes right back to those kids.”
Beyond raising money, Boykin believes the tournament demonstrates what Sampson County can accomplish when communities unite behind a common cause.
“I think it’s incredibly important because we’re missing out on opportunities when we don’t come together as a county,” Boykin said. “These alumni games show that we can come together for an amazing cause, not only for the older generation but for the younger generation too. Opportunities can open up, networking can happen and people can make connections while supporting our kids.”
Although fierce rivalries have existed between the county’s basketball programs for generations, organizers say the atmosphere surrounding the tournament has consistently reflected sportsmanship, with competition remaining on the court while friendships take center stage once the games conclude.
For Graham, that sense of community is exactly what the tournament is designed to celebrate.
“I just want the community to know this is about giving back,” Graham said. “Come out, enjoy some basketball, have fun and help us raise money for these basketball programs. We want everybody to sit back, relax and enjoy themselves.”
Of course, there will still be plenty of pride on the line.
Asked whether Clinton expected to defend its championship this summer, Boykin offered a confident smile.
“I expect the exact same thing,” he said.
The common goal is clear. This tournament is an opportunity to connect the county together, no matter what school district you represent, and participate in something that can benefit our youth.