From Rags to Riches

SPORTS & RECREATION From Rags to Riches By Kevin Fritz COU Left-Danny Kuhl, a guard from Winter Springs, The Tip-Off he quintessential high school rt ESY O ESY will be back on the court this year. He is being basketball tournament that also guarded by Keith Clanton, now a freshman at F Classic gives raises thousands of dollars for BO the University of Central Florida. T B Below-Standout junior guard Austin Rivers from charity and scholarships didn’t always HA Winter Park High School will be playing in the thousands back R enjoy such high recognition. The VEY Tip-Off Classic Invitational in December. to the community. fledging tourney, passed around by the Sentinel Star and Burger King back in tournament’s program, the showcase of the ’70s, was finally picked up by the talent has become a godsend for those Winter Park-based Orange County in need. This year, the food will be do- East Rotary Club in 1977 where it nated to the Salvation Army, and half found a home. of the money raised will be distributed “I have been a basketball junkie all in $12,000 scholarships, while the oth- my life,” admits Orlando resident Bob er half gets disbursed to local charities Harvey, president of Central Florida chosen by the Rotary. Data Supply and 22-year veteran leader And it is Harvey blan- of the Tip-Off Classic Invitational, held kets the Central Florida area at Winter Park High School. to scout basketball teams for Harvey remembers when he first the annual classic. He also started managing the tournament. He works with Orlando Senti- was having trouble convincing people nel’s Buddy Collings to be that Florida was not just a football state. But he perse- sure a good cross section of vered. Then two things happened that changed the course schools is chosen to play. This of the event forever. First, Harvey decided to waive the year Winter Springs, Winter admission fee if attendees brought a can of food. Park, Evans, Oakridge, De- “A lot of basketball fans in those days were inner- land, Mt. Dora Bible, Or- city kids,” he says, realizing the admission fee was keeping lando Christian Prep, and many of them away. Second, along came Daytona Beach’s Lake Brantley high schools Vince Carter from Mainland High School, who is now in have been invited to play for his 11th NBA season and his first year with the Orlando the trophy. Magic. A local legend in high school, people came from Harvey’s good friend, far and wide to see the next NBA superstar. the late Stewart Colling, Harvey says one of this year’s marquee attractions worked on the tournament is Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc with him for many of the Rivers. A junior at Winter Park High School, Austin says past 20-plus years. This year, Harvey has been going for- he will play for the Florida Gators after he graduates. ward alone. Well, not exactly. “I couldn’t do it without High school standouts Nick Calathes (Lake Howell) and my 80-member strong support group,” he says about the Darius Washington (Edgewater) have played in the Tip- Orange County East Rotary Club. Off Classic. Harvey says Colling and he once promised to man- “It is said if you don’t play this tournament, you won’t age the basketball tournament until it raised a total of $1 become Florida’s Mr. Basketball,” Harvey jokes, referring million. That could take another 10 years. But it appears to the highest honor bestowed on a Florida high school it’s a decade he looks forward to, by spending time help- basketball player. ing kids and being around the game of basketball. “It is a To this day, a can of food is all that is needed to see wonderful event,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun and great for some of the finest high school basketball in Central Flor- the community.” ida. And all that food adds up. Last year the Rotary col- lected 8,000 cans of food and received $2,000 at the door. To get involved in the Tip-Off Classic Invitational visit Added to the $50,000 in advertising that was sold in the CentralFlorida-Lifestyle.com. XX Central Florida Lifestyle | November 09.

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