Le Lézard
Classified in: Sports and recreation
Subject: BLK

The St. James Announces Kevin Durant MLK Classic, an Elite High School Basketball Showcase Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


SPRINGFIELD, Va., Nov. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The St. James, the premier sports, wellness and entertainment destination in the country, today announced its partnership with two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant's Team Durant at The St. James, to produce the inaugural Kevin Durant MLK Classic.

MLK Description

The KD MLK Classic, which will take place at The St. James from January 18 through January 20, 2020, will showcase match ups between some of North America's elite high school basketball programs and players to provide these young student athletes with unique leadership, service and educational experiences in celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rising stars from the US and Canada will come together at The St. James to compete in "must see" games, tour some of Washington, DC's most significant and treasured memorials and museums and participate in leadership and service experiences all to deepen their understanding of Dr. King's mission to expand freedom and equality and uplift human dignity.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s commitment to inclusivity and social activism are values I've always tried to instill in my players," said Wayne Pratt, Durant's father and chairman of basketball at The St. James. "The Kevin Durant MLK Classic continues Dr. King's legacy by bringing together young people to develop leadership skills on and off the court."

Participating teams will visit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the National Museum of African American History & Culture and the Lincoln Memorial, the site of Dr. King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. They will also engage in a conversation on leadership and participate in a community impact project.

"We, as a nation, owe Dr. King an enormous debt of gratitude," said Kendrick Ashton, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The St. James. "We repay that debt by ensuring that the next generation understands the enormous struggle for freedom, justice and equality Dr. King led and encourage them to find ways to continue Dr. King's work. The Kevin Durant MLK Classic is a wonderful vehicle to do so." 

"It is with tremendous humility and reverence that we launch the KD MLK Classic powered by The St. James," said Craig Dixon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The St. James. "We're incredibly excited to be paying homage to Dr. King by helping young people pursue their dream of competing at the highest level and providing them with truly unique educational and leadership experiences that we hope will enhance their understanding of the importance of values driven leadership and strengthen their belief in their ability to achieve their dreams."

The KD MLK Classic powered by The St. James will feature some of the top high school players in the US and Canada, including:

And the Washington, DC region's own:

Teams from the following schools will be playing in the showcase: Norcross High School (Norcross, GA), Crestwood Prep (Toronto, Ontario), Hamilton Heights (Chattanooga, TN), Archbishop Carroll (Washington, DC), Bullis School (Potomac, MD), Rock Creek Christian (Upper Marlboro, MD), Grayson High School (Loganville, GA), Wasatch Academy, (Mount Pleasant, Utah).

This is the first high school basketball showcase produced by a leading NBA star and is the latest in a series of partnerships and events for The St. James that have quickly established it as one of the leading brands nationally in sports and wellness.

Visit www.kdmlkclassic.com for tickets and information.

About The St. James
The St. James is the premier sports, wellness and entertainment destination in the country. Our mission is to maximize human potential by designing, developing and operating sports, wellness, entertainment and hospitality programs, services and experiences that engage, inspire and empower people to pursue their passions and be their best at play, at work and in life. The St. James aims to serve as the center of the universe in every community where it is located by delivering the most comprehensive combination of best-in-class sports and wellness venues, developmental and elite coaching, training and competition, five-star lifestyle experiences and family centered active fun all in an environment that engages, inspires and delights everyone that comes through our doors. The St. James, which opened its first location just outside of Washington, DC in the fall of 2018, plans to open its second complex in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire in the fall of 2021. For more information, please visit thestjames.com.

SOURCE The St. James


These press releases may also interest you

at 04:00
Sportradar and Oddin.gg, an award-winning B2B betting-solutions provider for esports, today announced they have entered into a multi-year strategic partnership to offer audiovisual streaming of Oddin's exclusive esports content to Sportradar's...

at 02:00
Realeague, the creator of the recent high-profile global sports business summit in Macao and the proposed new East Asia club basketball competition, announces the addition of Greg Stolt to its leadership team as Senior Vice President of Basketball...

27 mar 2024
For many people, the city of Ningbo may not sound as well-known as metropolis such as Beijing and Shanghai in China, but it may be closer to the daily life: the Chinese-made hardware tools, rice cookers and even new energy vehicles people bought are...

27 mar 2024
Emerald Acres Sports Connection and the Sports Facilities Companies proudly announce the appointment of Tyler Yoder as its General Manager. His extensive experience in athletics and event management will play a pivotal role in positioning Mattoon,...

27 mar 2024
Hiboy has announced the launch of its first folding Electric bike - the Hiboy C1. This folding electric bike enhances the rider's riding style and performance for a fantastic urban riding experience while ensuring complete safety and security....

27 mar 2024
Alta Global Group Limited ("Alta" or the "Company") , a technology company that is enabling the global martial arts and combat sports industry to maximize the monetization opportunities available to the sector by increasing...



News published on and distributed by: