The tournament is scheduled for Jan. 15-18 at Fairmont High School’s Trent Arena. Horstman said attendance would be limited to 300 fans based on Ohio Department of Health restrictions, but he is seeking a waiver to increase attendance to 15 percent capacity. State protocols limit attendance at indoor events to the lesser of 300 fans or 15 percent of capacity. At Trent Arena, 15 percent capacity would mean 660 spectators.
If the waiver request is unsuccessful, Horstman said he has other venues as options.
“My goal is to be able to allow as many fans as possible to enjoy the event for some sense of normalcy in these crazy times,” he said. “But obviously we will make sure we are following all department of health safety protocols and keep them as safe as possible.”
Flyin' will tip off Friday, Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m. with two national games and several 4-star and 5-star recruits. Horstman scheduled this way for the first time last year to accommodate travel needs. The attendance was good and fans liked it so much that he decided to start that way again.
Hamilton Heights of Tennessee and La Lumiere of Indiana meet in a national top-20 matchup in the opener. Game 2 is AZ Compass Prep of Arizona vs. ISA Andrews Osborne from northeast Ohio.
Area boys teams on the schedule are Beavercreek, Centerville, Springfield, Alter, Trotwood-Madison, Chaminade Julienne, Wayne, Fenwick, Dunbar and Fairmont.
Alter will play Akron Buchtel and Chris Livingston, a 5-star shooting guard in the class of 2022. He is the No. 3-rated player in his class in the 24/7 Sports composite index and is not committed.
Fairmont plays in the final game against Cincinnati Taft, which features Rayvon Griffith, a 5-star shooting guard in the class of 2023.
Fenwick is making its first appearance against another first-timer, Lovett School of Georgia. Lovett is led by Ryan Mutombo, a 6-foot-11, 4-star center in the class of 2021. He is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo and is committed to his father’s alma mater, Georgetown.
Other first-time teams are St. Louis Christian Academy, iSchool of Lewisville (Texas), Cleveland St. Ignatius and Botkins, which will face Ottoville in the traditional small-school matchup.
Horstman said, as rosters stand now, seven 5-star players and 17 4-stars will compete. Seventy players who played at Flyin' have played in the NBA.
The annual girls game will start Saturday’s action at 11:30 with Springboro against Beavercreek. Sunday and Monday games also begin at 11:30. Six games will be played Saturday and Sunday and five on Monday.
FLYIN' TO THE HOOP SCHEDULE
Trent Arena, Fairmont High School
FRIDAY, JAN. 15
Hamilton Heights (Tenn.) vs. La Lumiere (Ind.), 6:30 p.m.
Compass Prep (Ariz.) vs. ISA Andrews Osborne (Ohio), 8:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 16
Beavercreek vs. Springboro (Girls), 11:30 a.m.
Crestwood Prep (Canada) vs. Beavercreek, 1:15 p.m.
Canton McKinley vs. Thomas Worthington, 3 p.m.
Pace Academy (Ga.) vs. Pickerington Central, 4:45 p.m.
Lutheran East vs. Centerville, 6:30 p.m.
St. Louis Christian Academy (Mo.) vs. iSchool of Lewisville (Texas), 8:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, JAN. 17
Massillon Jackson vs. Springfield, 11:30 a.m.
Akron Buchtel vs. Alter, 1:15 p.m.
Cle. St. Ignatius vs. Trotwood-Madison, 3 p.m.
Dream City Christian (Ariz.) vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, 4:45 p.m.
Yorkville Christian (Ill.) vs. Chaminade Julienne, 6:30 p.m.
Gahanna Lincoln vs. Wayne, 8:15 p.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 18
Lovett School (Ga.) vs. Fenwick, 11:30 a.m.
Premier Academy (Texas) vs. Dream City Christian (Ariz.), 1:15 p.m.
Lima Shawnee vs. Dunbar, 3 p.m.
Botkins vs. Ottoville, 4:45 p.m.
Cin. Taft vs. Fairmont, 6:30 p.m.
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