THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140563
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Playground legends from across the nation will be descending on Norfolk next month when the Hampton Roads Pro-Am basketball league hosts a national invitational tournament.
The first-ever Summer Pro-Am Invitational, sanctioned by National Pro-Am City Leagues in New York, will be held Aug. 24-27 at several sites, Hampton Roads Pro-Am commissioner Wayne Hoffler said.
``It's something we've really wanted to have for a long time - since day one,'' Hoffler said. ``It'll bring something to the people of the area, and it'll help put us on the map.''
Now in its fourth year, the Hampton Roads Pro-Am is one of the newest of the 26 leagues affiliated with the national office in New York.
But Pro-Am president and CEO Cecil Watkins said he was impressed with Norfolk's bid to host the tournament.
``They've been working very hard, and they have everything to offer,'' Watkins said. ``And national Pro-Am needs to be exposed in that area.''
The tournament will feature men's and women's divisions, with eight to 12 teams in each, Waktins said.
``That's our big event for the summer,'' said Jonathan Supranowitz, public relations coordinator for the national Pro-Am.
For the past two years, the Pro-Am has held a four-team summer tournament, a made-for-TV affair televised by ABC.
But that tournament won't be held this year, so Watkins and Hoffler are expecting some of the nation's top leagues - New York, Chicago, Houston and Dallas - to send teams to Norfolk.
One league that is sure to be represented is New York. A Hampton Roads team beat a squad from the Big Apple two years ago at the Pro-Am Winter Nationals in Miami, and the New Yorkers have been clamoring for revenge ever since.
``New York wants to come down awful bad,'' Hoffler said. ``They're talking about bringing (Anthony) Mason down.''
The tournament is open only to players who have used their college eligibility. Houston's team in the past has included ex-Rocket Allen Leavell while Pete Meyers of the Bulls has played with the Chicago team.
Hoffler said the tournament probably will be held at Lake Taylor High, Norfolk Academy and Virginia Wesleyan.
``We need to do some fund-raising, because it's going to cost about $10,000 to do it,'' Hoffler said. ``I believe we could get some crowds out.''
ACROSS THE WATER: The Pro-Am will play in Hampton for the first time next Friday, June 21, in a doubleheader with a Boo Williams AAU team at Hampton University's Convocations Center.
The first game, tentatively set for 7 p.m., will pit Williams' 17-and-under team against the Pro-Am's Unlimited team.
The second game will match A&G Imports - led by Hampton native Allen Iverson - against Kershner & Hawkins and its point guard, former Booker T. Washington star Michael Evans.
``All we're doing is moving a game to that side, so that, No. 1, people will get a chance to see Allen (Iverson),'' Hoffler said. ``And No. 2, people on the Peninsula will get a chance to see what Pro-Am is all about.''
Hoffler says he's looking into a number of possibilities for the second game, including inviting NBA No. 1 draft choice Joe Smith to play. Smith has played twice this summer, but hasn't been out since the Golden State Warriors made him the top pick on June 28.
``If this works well, we'll do it every year,'' he said.
Admission will be charged for the first game, but not for the second. NCAA rules don't allow admission to be charged for summer games involving college players.
Georgetown's Iverson scored 71 points in his Pro-Am debut June 24 and 51 last Saturday. About 500 people turned out to watch his team play at Lake Taylor last week.
ODDS AND ENDS: With the A&G and Kershner & Hawkins game rescheduled for July 21st, there will be just one men's game Saturday at Lake Taylor, at 5 p.m. The women will play their regular slate of games at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. . . . Iverson, at 61 points per game, is the league's runaway scoring leader, but several other players are putting up big numbers as well. Former Norfolk State guard Darren Sanderlin is averaging 46.7 points in three games, followed by ODU's Joe Bunn at 39.0, Joe Smith at 38.5 and former Virginia Commonwealth star Sherron Mills at 34.0. by CNB