"I've been coaching twenty-five years, 23 at St. Patrick's in New Jersey, and we've been in a lot of tournaments that were supposed to be the best tournament; City of Palms, Beach Ball, and McDonald's in Erie, Pennsylvania and without a doubt when you factor in everything this tournament is as good as any tournament...especially when you factor the community and the crowd in. It's amazing the knowledge of basketball for the people here, the support, the enthusiasm."
Kevin Boyle, Montverde(FL)
"Basketball has been very good to me. I've been all over the world. I've played in tournaments in Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Italy. My kids always talk about Springfield, Missouri. Five out of my seven times here with St. Raymonds, we either played for or won a state and/or city championship. This is a great measure to see what you're going to do when you get back. Springfield, Missouri is the greatest place. People are so nice. Not matter how much you lose by, people come up to you, telling you how hard your kids played."
Gary DeCesare, Chicago(IL) St. Rita & Bronx(NY) St. Raymonds
"It's been great for us. It's been great being in Missouri. It's just first class. We're real blessed with the opportunity to be here."
Keith Gatlin, High Point(NC) Wesleyan Christian
"It's been a wonderful experience. I think my kids have really enjoyed the experience here. I love the people here."
Jason Bryant, San Diego, CA Lincoln
"Very special atmosphere. The city of Springfield embraces this tournament. Kentucky is a basketball crazy state and I'd say Missouri is now just as crazy. Usually traveling with coaches and players...especially flying...is a tremendous amount of work, this has been like a vacation."
Troy Barr, Mount Washington, KY Bullitt East
"This tournament has given us the validation to why we work as hard as we work. This is the only time I've ever been in a basketball situation where you can have the possibility of going 0-3 and they are proud of the fact that you come out and play as hard as you can possibly play."
Lamont Frazier, Willard(MO)
"This week has been very special for our
team and school. When we were offered the
opportunity to come to Springfield, we didn't
hesitate to say yes. We travel around the country
and play in a lot of different tournaments, this
tournament is advertised as first class, very
professional and it's better than advertised!
It's been been an absolute thrill to be here for
our kids. We've been treated like royalty."
Stan Kowalewski, Oak Ridge Military Academy Cadets
"Mark Fisher told us we'll play three big
time teams, they can all play, and they'll all
want to beat us. You're going to play
infront of 8,000 people and we're going to
treat you first class...that's the truth guys. That
is the truth! We were at the City of Palms
last year, great tournament, but it doesn't
hold anything to this tournament."
Tom White, Chicago De La Salle Meteors
"We go all over the place to play in tournaments.
We beg to come here! Its got to be the best tournament in the country, period. Everywhere you go it's like you're a celebrity for three days. Great competition and great fans."
Jesus Patino, White Station Spartans (Memphis, Tn.)
We've had the opportunity to be to tournaments
around the country from California to Charlotte, North Carolina. This is by far, not even close, the best run and most organized we've ever played at. The support by the community makes all the difference. For our kids to be able to come out and play in front of 7,000 or 9,000 people and in an arena like the Q, which is the nicest arena we've ever played that's for sure, is an experience
that goes beyond basketball. It's an experience for our kids and coaches that they'll never forget."
Adam Ross, Sagemont Lions (Weston, Fla.)
"I can't get over the hospitality at this tournament. I can't get over the fans. The comradery among the coaches and players...it's very unique."
David Boyd, Milton Eagles (Alpharetta, Ga.)
"One of the most well run tournaments we've ever been to. What I really like is the gym...Hammons Center has a great floor, a good background for shooters, and the crowd is so appreciative of basketball...they treat you really well."
 Terry Tippett , Memphis(Tn.) White Station Spartans
"People here in Springfield are great and the fan support is unbelievable! All our kids felt a little special and enjoyed their time."
Oliver Antigua - St. Raymond's Ravens - Bronx, N.Y.
"It was one of the earlier tournaments that got in touch with me last year, and that allowed me a chance to talk about it with all the college guys who were coming through town recruiting Kyle Singler. They all spoke very, very highly of it."

"I was talking with (Portland Jefferson coach) Marshall Haskins before a game, and he just said if you get a chance to do it you should do it because it's a great, great tournament. They're just great, great people and very hospitable."
 Dennis Murphy - South Medford(OR)
"Everything was spectacular! We were treated like royalty. When we needed something, we got it. Once you get here, everybody loves basketball and you can feel that."
 Steve Kohn, Lake Howell High - Winter Park, Fla.
"This is as good as it gets. It exceeded our expectations. Hammons Student Center is a tremendous venue, the fans are great and the hospitality was tremendous."
 Mark Liberman, Monsignor Pace Spartans
"Wonderful tournament. First class operation. All of the players should be proud that they get an opportunity to play in this event. You have to act right, you have to be sure to demonstrate that not only can you play on the court, but you're going to represent your school and community in the right way. That's how you get invited to the best tournaments."
Glenn Farello, Fairfax(VA) Paul VI
"It's been an awesome experience. Everything here has been done in a Southern hospitality kind of way. We've been to a lot of the top tier tournaments the last few years and I'd have to say this one ranks right up there as the top one just because of the experience. Great community, great field, and it's basketball at its purest form."
Sharmon White, Lithonia(GA) Miller Grove
"This has been a great experience for our kids...to get out of southwest Houston and to come to a place like Springfield...it is really, really awesome. Wonderful tournament...get to play great basketball."
Russell Carr, Houston, TX Westbury Christian
"It was amazing. Nicest people, fans I've ever been around. One of my players (a senior) told me "You gotta bring another group here...this is first class". He's telling the truth."
Derrick Taylor, Bellflower(CA) St. John Bosco
"We're fortunate as a team to be here. We're very fortunate as a school to be here. We're fortunate to play at a high school basketball tournament on this stage for our team. We've had a great time here. There's some amazing coaches, amazing talent, and some amazing teams."
Jon Shaw, Sun Valley(CA) Village Christian
Commenting on being a player for Christ the King in 1994: "We played (Springfield) Glendale in the finals
and we're thinking there's 9,000 people and no
one's going to be rooting for us. The one thing we found out was all they wanted to see was a very good basketball game and the people of Springfield, Missouri not only applauded a good play on Glendale's part, but they also applauded a good play on our part. I don't remember much about the game other than we lost, but I just remember how good the people of Springfield, Missouri were."

As head coach at C the K:
"This is the best tournament that we've ever been to.
It gives our guys something that they don't see everyday. They don't see 8,000 people in the stands. They don't see how the rest of the country lives. They see how kind people can be and how people take the time out to just say "Hello" to you. They take the time out to find out how you're doing. They take the time out to see if you're comfortable. And, that's something that's more than just basketball. It's something you can model your life around."
Joseph Arbitello, Christ the King Royals (Middle Village, NY)
"I've heard people talk about Myrtle Beach and on this internet thing that's number two and the Tournament of Champions is seventh, but I'm telling you this is number one! It's unbelievable. Hospitality's been great. Everybody's nice...everywhere we go they're extremely nice. We were here watching MSU play Southern Illinois and we were told the T Of C would have the same crowd, and I thought "yeah, right," but to walk into the arena and see as many people supporting this tournament is just unbelievable."
Terry Long, Oklahoma City Douglass Trojans
“I'm about lifetime experiences. To me high school basketball is about memories, and our kids got to play in one of the top-notch high school tournaments in the country. It's like you're on a stage with a spotlight. It's got a real big-time feel to it.”
 John McFall, Olathe(Ks.) South Falcons
"First class tournament...Great Atmosphere!"
 John David Pattillo - Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mules
"It's a great reward for the kids. Seeing all the nice hospitality, it'll be tough to get them off the plane and bring them back down to reality. The atmosphere is equivalent to our state tournament in Wisconsin. Truly a good experience!"
 Jim Gosz - Rufus King Generals - Milwaukee(WI)
"Every team that comes in here to the
Tournament of Champions, when you leave here after three days, you'll leave here a better team."
Dick Rippee, Kickapoo Chiefs (Springfield, Mo.)
"To be on the front page of the newspaper, not just the sports section, but the whole newspaper, have all the radio coverage, and 7,000+ people at a high school game... the kids couldn't believe it, and to be honest, the coaches couldn't as well."
 Jay Blossom - Webster Groves Statesmen - St. Louis, Mo.
"This event lived up to everything we had heard about it being such a big time, first-class national tournament and it is every bit that."
 Jimmy Adams, Memphis(Tn.) Raleigh-Egypt
"We've been to tournaments elsewhere and this one, by far, it's the best. The organization, the facilities, the activities, and the place... great place to play. The kids are excited with the atmosphere and having that type of crowd every night. It's been a great experience...win or lose."
 Rick LeBato, Northside High - Lafayette, Louisiana
"First-class! One of the best we've been to. Its been great."
 Marshall Haskins, Portland(Oregon) Jefferson
"It's overwhelming and an honor for us to get to play in this. Springfield Public Schools and Bass Pro Shops putting this on is just unbelievable."
 Guy Hardaker, Edmond, Okla. Santa Fe
 "It was a great atmosphere. We had 8,000 people at every game, and everywhere we went, people we re talking about basketball. It was a great experience for us."
Butch Sigler, Houston(Tx.) Strake Jesuit