The Pratt Community College men's basketball program is scheduled to host the first ever Pratt County Jamboree on Oct. 20. The event will feature full length games and scrimmage style-matchups for each participating team. Games will be held in the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena on the campus of PCC and also at Blythe Family Fitness.
Teams from across the country will go head-to-head to showcase their skills. The jamboree will highlight exhibition contests for schools from four different states including one basketball preparation academy. The participating teams will include Redlands Community College, Southeast Community College, Lamar Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Allen County Community College, Garden City Community College and OnPoint Hoops Academy.
Multiple games will occur at the same time. Spectators will get to enjoy college basketball as early as 7 a.m. Fans and participants will break for lunch at 11:45 a.m. The action will start up again around 1 p.m. The final game of the day will tipoff at 2:35 p.m.
The jamboree will serve as the second date for preseason scrimmages that PCC will participate in. This is the only time that Pratt will compete in front of home fans during the non-regular season. The event will be hosted on a Saturday in order to allow potential viewers with avid time to attend.
"Bringing a preseason college basketball event to Pratt should excite local basketball fans. All of the participating teams have multiple division one prospects on their rosters. Good players from all over the country, and world, will compete at a high level on October 20th," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Sean Flynn.
Flynn also sees the jamboree as a way to give back to kids living in Pratt, Kan.
"Growing up in Boston I had access to countless basketball events like our jamboree. Attending tournaments and all-star games as a little kid are one of many reasons basketball hooked me for life. I hope a lot of kids in Pratt see our jamboree in a similar light. Watching these events help kids realize that there are good basketball players all over the world. Over time you understand what separates good and great. We hope to see tons of elementary and middle schoolers in the stands."
PCC men's basketball will begin regular season competition in November. Their first competition will be against Kansas Wesleyan Junior Varsity. Visit gobeaversports.com for the entire season schedule.
