Both Minneapolis North and Park Center stand together as they pose for a photo. /Chris Juhn
Players and coaches of Park Center stand with community leaders as they pose for a photo holding their trophy. /Chris Juhn
Players and coaches of Minneapolis North stand with community leaders as they pose for a photo holding their trophy. /Chris Juhn
Minneapolis North and Park Center shake hands at the end of the game. /Chris Juhn
The recipients for 2 of the All-Tournament trophies pose for an photo.
“We Are The Youth” is written on the back of the hoodie of a group of fans who showed up to watch the game. /Chris Juhn
Leontae Lilly of Orr Academy (left) charges past Braeden Carrington of Park Center as he moves up the court. /Chris Juhn
Larry McKenzie, the coach for Minneapolis North with one of the players before the start of the game.
With 6.5 seconds left in the game, Park Rapids leads Minneapolis North 67 to 55.
All Tournament tropies sit on a table at the end of the gym.
Trophies for the tournament sit on a table at the end of the gym.
Trophies for the tournament sit on a table at the end of the gym.
The 1st place trophy for the George Floyd Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic sits on a table at the end of the gym.
One of the trophies for All Tournamet in the George Floyd, Jr. Holiday Classic is held before it was given out.
DJ Iceman spins tunes for the fans and players at the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis.
Head coach of Park Center James Ware (with a clip board).
Community leader Alfred Flowers (right) talks to a score keeper at half time during the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis.
Fans watch as Park Center and Orr Academy square off at the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis.
Orr Academy Head Coach Louis Adams (right) yells as an assistant coach talks to a player during a timeout against Park Center.
Former pro basketball player P.J. Hill hands holds the first-place trophy before handing it to Park Center.
James Ware, the head coach for Park Center applauds his team as they lead 67 to 55 over Minneapolis North.
Braeden Carrington of Park Center attempts a layup.
Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North shoots a free throw.
Players for Minneapolis North listens to one of the assistant coaches during a timeout.
Jumping up past the rim of the basket, Cody Pennebaker of Park Center jumps up for the ball.
Fans watch as Minneapolis North and Park Center play each other in the tournament. Around 150 people filled the bleachers for the game.
Two Minneapolis police officers stand near the entrance to the gym during the tournament.
Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North attempts to make his way up the court.
Braeden Carrington of Park Center fights over the ball with 2 Minneapolis North players.
Leo Torbor of Park Center flies through the air after charging down the court as he attempts to score.
The referees talk before the start of the game. /Chris Juhn
Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North flies through the air after charging down the court, successfully scoring.
Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North moves up the court.
Gani Stevens of Minneapolis North attempts to score as Park Center players attempt to stop him.
Marquell Crump of Orr Academy (left) and James Spencer of Park Center jump for the ball during the start of the game. /Chris Juhn
Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North (24) shoots the ball after charging towards the basket as Park Center players scramble to stop him from scoring. /Chris Juhn
Leo Torbor of Park Center attempts to move up the court as Datrell McCrimmon of Minneapolis North tries to block him. /Chris Juhn
Jacob Butler of Minneapolis North dribbles up the court. /Chris Juhn
Zaeshon Rich of Minneapolis North attempts to shoot a layup as players from Park Center try to block him.
Isaiah Foster of Orr Academy (left) charges past Cody Pennebaker of Park Center as he moves up the court. /Chris Juhn
Zaeshon Rich of Minneapolis North attempts to shoot a layup as players from Park Center try to block him.
George Floyd Classic is projected on a screen as Park Center players catch a rebound in the foreground. /Chris Juhn
Leaping to attempt a lay up, Auvon Sager of Minneapolis North collides with James Spencer of Park Center and fouls him in the process. /Chris Juhn
Jacob Butler of Minneapolis North dribbles up the court. /Chris Juhn
Jumping for the ball during the start of the game, James Spencer (left) of Park Center and Jacob Butler of Minneapolis North both jump up for the ball. /Chris Juhn
Frozen in the air after dunking the ball, a Park Center player warms up before the start of the game. /Chris Juhn
Braeden Carrington of Park Center jumps up to shoot the ball during the game vs Orr Academy from Chicago, IL at the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis. /Chris Juhn
Leontae Lilly of Orr Academy from Chciago, IL attempts a layup during the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis. /Chris Juhn
After falling during the game, an Orr Academy player is helped up by his teammates and members of Park Center during the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis.
Kelley Okoroh of Orr Academy makes his way up the court at the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis. /Chris Juhn
Senior Braeden Carrington of Park Center jogs out onto the court, making his way past his teammates as he’s introduced at the start of the game. /Chris Juhn
Players for Minneapolis North warm up before the start of the game. /Chris Juhn
Leo Torbor of Park Center flies through the air to score against Orr Academy from Chicago, IL during the George Floyd, Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic game at North Central University in Minneapolis. /Chris Juhn
Displayed throgout the tournament, the logo for the “George Floyd Classic” is projected onto a screen in the gymnasium.
“This is a different kind of tournament,” observed starting North High senior guard Willie Wilson. “We are celebrating somebody whose life was taken for no reason. I’m glad we can honor him.
“He was not just an incident, but a person who was just like me and played basketball in high school just like me.” Wilson put up 25 points Tuesday night in the opening game to lead North past Houston’s Jack Yates High School.
The inaugural George Floyd Jr. Memorial Holiday Classic concluded on Wednesday at North Central University in Minneapolis as Park Center High captured the crown, defeating Minneapolis North 67 to 55. Minnesota Gopher recruit Braeden Carrington led all scorers with 33 points. North’s Wilson led North with 22.
The tournament was the brainchild of Minneapolis North High coach Larry MacKenzie, Richfield High coach Omar McMillan, and the Minnesota Black Basketball Coaches Association.
Christopher Mark Juhn Minneapolis North basketball coach Larry MacKenzie gives instructions to his team.
“We wanted to put on a tournament that means something and we wanted to honor George Floyd in a positive way and put a positive spin on his legacy,” said MacKenzie.
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Minneapolis North, Park Center High, Orr Academy of Chicago, and Houston’s Jack Yates High in Texas, which Floyd attended, were the tourney participants.
The Minnesota Black Basketball Coaches Association raised funds to bring in the Yates High team that is located in Houston’s infamous Third Ward.
“George’s death more than hit home,” said Yates basketball coach Greg Wise. “He [George] would come to all of his nephew’s games when I coached him. He was a big supporter of his nephew.” Floyd’s nephew was scheduled to attend the tourney but his flight was canceled.
Wise said he jumped on board with the idea of the tournament right away, especially since Floyd had a connection to both Minneapolis and Houston.
“My kids are excited about being a small part of keeping his legacy alive,” he said. Wise added that he had to leave some players behind because they had COVID. They planned on visiting George Floyd Square before returning to Houston.
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Yates’ senior point guard Quran McKinney said Floyd is a part of the school’s family and he hopes change comes as a result of Floyd’s murder. “All we ask for is peace and equality. We can’t have any more killings—no more Daunte Wrights. It shouldn’t be hard to do the right thing,” said McKinney.
MacKenzie said the tournament will be an annual event. “We are making a negative into a positive. George Floyd’s name will continue to influence our lives and America for years.”
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Mel Reeves was the community editor at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder until he passed away on January 6, 2022. He had a long and storied history working at the MSR.
Find more about Reeve’s life and legacy here: spokesman-recorder.com/category/remembering-mel-reeves.
That’s AWESOME, thanks for sharing the gallery photos, their on the way from boy’s to men.