The Adam Ward Classic Committee will be holding the Adam Ward Preseason Showcase this Saturday, October 22, at Cave Spring High School.
The first game will begin at 4 p.m. and feature the Miller School against Oak Hill Red. The second game, scheduled for 6 p.m., will feature Massanutten Military Academy against Oak Hill Gold. There will be numerous college recruits in the two games including Elijah Mitchell, formerly of William Fleming High School.
The 2023 Adam Ward Classic basketball games will be played on February 3 and 4 of 2023 at Glenvar and Salem High Schools.
Since 2016, Salem High School, the Western Virginia Basketball Officials Association, and the City of Salem have joined forces to honor the memory of Adam Ward by hosting a basketball classic in his honor. Adam was tragically killed on August 26, 2015, while working as a photojournalist for WDBJ7. The 2007 Salem High School alumnus, who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011, played football at Salem High School and was an avid fan and supporter of all types of athletic events his entire life.
“Adam Ward personified the true meaning of a student-athlete,” said Grant Smythers, Salem High School teacher and tournament co-founder. “He was a huge sports fan, who loved high school basketball, and the Adam Ward Basketball Classic will highlight some of the best teams in the state of Virginia each season.”
The event is being sponsored by various businesses and organizations throughout the Roanoke Valley. The majority of the proceeds from the event will go to the Adam Ward Scholarship Fund that is administered by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association. To date, the Adam Ward Classic has contributed over $60,000 dollars to the Adam Ward Scholarship Fund. In addition, the Adam Ward Classic Committee will be making donations to the Make a Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics in Adam’s honor.
“The money generated from this event will provide scholarship opportunities for high school students who were deemed Adam-like during their high school careers,” Smythers said. “Salem High School is honored to host such a worthy event for such a special young man.”
The Western Virginia Basketball Officials Association, which has a track record for supporting charitable causes, has been instrumental in making the event a success each year.
“This is a great way to honor Adam Ward’s memory, as well as all of the others who have been touched and affected by his passing, and I think Adam would be pleased we are doing this through the game of basketball,” Commissioner Jerry Spangler said.
To learn more about sponsorship or scholarship opportunities, contact Grant Smythers, gsmythers@salem.k12.va.us, Hank Luton, HankLuton@gmail.com, Jerry Spangler, jspangler1129@gmail.com, Drew Barrett, dbarrett@salem.k12.va.us, or Chris Williams at cjpdubya@gmail.com.