Another high profile high school boys’ basketball tournament will take place in Lexington County during the Christmas holidays. 

The Chick-Fil-A Classic is moving this year from Columbia to the town of Lexington, the organizers announced Wednesday. The 4-day event, which has featured NBA players such as Stephen Curry, Zion Williamson, Anthony Edwards and former University of South Carolina and current Denver Nuggets' guard PJ Dozier, will take place Dec. 27-29 at River Bluff and Lexington high schools. 

The move is the apparent result of yearlong conversations between Richland Northeast Athletics Director and Classic Coordinator Gary Fulmer and Lexington School District 1 District Athletics Director David Bennett. 

“The tournament could not have been held at Richland Northeast this year due to ongoing campus construction,” Fulmer said. “Almost 1/4 of the available parking was lost due to the construction. Lexington County was very eager to host the tournament and district director of athletics, David Bennett has handled much of the logistics."

“You have 2 really nice gyms and our community would want to continue with what they’ve done in Richland County,” Bennett said. “We want to make it a great event.”

River Bluff is expected to serve as a location for the American and National Division tournaments. It and Lexington High School will also share in holding the Carolinas Challenge. 

Both the Gators, Wildcats and Irmo are among the Chronicle Country teams playing in the Classic. Other in-state schools include Ridge View, WJ Keenan and Legacy Early College. 

Out-of-state schools in the field are Hillcrest Prep (Arizona), Archbishop Stepinac (New York), Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (California), St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), Denver Prep (Colorado), Huntington Prep (Huntington, West Virginia), Dream City Christian (Arizona), Grayson (Georgia), Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.) and John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)

Fulmer gave no commitment past this year for the tournament returning to Lexington in 2022. 

“We're obviously very excited to be involved in a 1st-class event like the Chick-Fil-A Classic,” Lexington head coach Elliott Pope said. “The exposure will be tremendous for our entire program.”

While Pope expects All-State sophomore guard Cam Scott to receive attention, he also believes this is an opportunity for the entire team to “compete versus some excellent talent”. 

Prior to last year’s cancellation, Dorman High School head coach and former Lexington High School guard Thomas Ryan had won the 2019 American Division. 

The Chick-Fil-A Classic golf tournament will also take place in Lexington County. The Captain’s Choice event, which also raises scholarship funds, is set for Nov. 18 at the Ponderosa Country Club in Batesburg-Leesville. 

Preceding the Chick-Fil-A Classic is the Cayce Roundball Classic set for Dec. 21-23 at Brookland-Cayce High School gymnasium. Palmetto State teams like AC Flora, WJ Keenan, Sumter and Hartsville and programs from Georgia will converge on the town of Cayce for the 3-day event.

Tournament brackets are expected to be released at a future date.