Best of the 757

Best of the 757 Showcase to Profile Local Talent – VirginiaPreps.com

Category: News Coverage

Best of the 757 Showcase to Profile Local Talent – VirginiaPreps.com Chesapeake, VA-- Home of the newly anointed state basketball champions from South Hampton Roads and reigning baseball and football state champions from the Peninsula, the current crop of 757 athletes continues to build on the reputation and traditions of the 757 legends of the past. To help 757 athletes stake claim as to "Who is the best of the 757 in 2010?", the Best of the 757 (http://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;www.bestofthe757.com), in combination with 7 Cities Sports, POWERADE, Nike SPARQ, the Boo Williams Summer League and VirginiaPreps.com, is excited to announce the 2010 Best of the 757 Showcase Series. In its third year, the Best of the 757 is a celebration and showcase of high school athletes from Hampton Roads. In 2008 and 2009, several hundred athletes from throughout Hampton Roads and representing many of the 58 high schools in the 757 participated in the multi-sport Best of the 757 showcase. 

Ben Edwards

York High School Senior and 2009 Best of the 757 Slam Dunk Contest Winner, Ben Edwards, had the top 40-yard dash time in 2009 and feels that last year's event helped improve his overall stock with college scouts. "The Best of the 757 helped me get looked at and put my scores out there for college recruiters which greatly boosted my chances of getting noticed," said Edwards. 

"It was a natural fit for us," sayshttp://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;VirginiaPreps.com publisher Zirkle Blakey, "because we are always on the lookout for the next great athlete, the rising stars and the under-seen sleeper prospects and these events will give us an opportunity to gather all three in one spot. We couldn't be more excited about being involved in this project."

The 2010 Best of the 757 Showcase Series will include three events - a Baseball Showcase on April 17th at Old Dominion University, a Football Combine on May 22nd at Christopher Newport University and a Basketball Showcase on September 18th at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. The athletic competitions will profile the area's top athletes in baseball, football and basketball to see who might be tomorrow's next great athlete of the 757. Hampton Roads' area high school athletes will compete in a series of Nike SPARQ athletic tests during the first half of the event and then show off their sports specific skills during the second half. The event will culminate with a celebration and awards ceremony in which the area's top athletes will be recognized. These athletes will have earned the right to say they are truly the Best of the 757 in their sport for 2010! 

The Best of the 757 Co-Director, John Cunningham, expressed his excitement for the growth of the event series. "Our goal since year one has been to make the Best of the 757 a fun but competitive event for high school student athletes in the 757. There is a very rich athletic tradition in the 757, and we are excited to partner withhttp://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;VirginiaPreps.com, 7 Cities Sports, Nike SPARQ, POWERADE and the Boo Williams Sportsplex on the 2010 Best of the 757 Showcase Series. We are also very appreciative of our local community partners, such as Tidewater Physical Therapy, TowneBank, Cox Channel 11, Hometown Heroes, ODU, CNU and the US Military Branches, who help support the event and allow us to provide a fun but cost-effective event for our local 757 athletes."

Heralded sophomore running back, Joel "JC" Coleman, from the Oscar Smith Tigers hopes to stake his claim as to being the Best of the 757 in 2010 and also get the early attention of college scouts. "The Best of the 757 is a very good experience," said Coleman. "By competing in this event, I hope to get further exposure to college scouts and to someday play pro football. The event helps provide me with a great benchmark and is also a ton of fun."

Nansemond River Head Basketball Coach, Ed Young, had his athletes participate in the 2009 event to provide a yardstick for his team to better understand training areas to focus on during the off-season. "As a coach, it helped me and our kids understand what they need to do to get better. It was also really neat to have all of the athletes from the 757 together at one event."

In its commitment to providing a unique regional competitive event that includes a fun and interactive atmosphere, the Best of the 757 has added a Tailgating with Sponsors this year for participating athletes and family and fans attending the events. In conjunction with the football, baseball and basketball showcases, the Best of the 757 and its sponsors will host a Tailgating with Sponsors during the registration period and throughout each of the events that will include free food, music and activities for family, friends and fans of 757 athletes who attend. 

7 Cities Manager Tim Hummel, himself a former pro baseball player, is looking forward to supporting area athletes, "7 Cities Sports; Michael, BJ, Justin, and myself, is excited to team up with the Best of the 757, http://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;VirginiaPreps.com, and the Boo Williams Sportsplex for the 2010 Best of the 757 Showcase Series. This is a wonderful opportunity for high school athletes to get coveted exposure for their skills. 7 Cities Sports strives to give young athletes the best opportunities to reach the next level. In this case, the opportunity to get in front of coaches and scouts will assist them in achieving their goals of participating in collegiate or professional sports."

ABOUT THE BEST OF THE 757:
The Best of the 757 is a collaboration of 7 Cities Sports, the Boo Williams Summer League, Nike SPARQ and http://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;VirginiaPreps.com(http://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;Rivals.com). In its third year, the Best of the 757 is a showcase series that helps promote high school athletes from the 757 area code, or Hampton Roads. In 2008 and 2009, several hundred athletes from throughout Hampton Roads and representing many of the 58 high schools in the 757 participated in the multi-sport Best of the 757 showcase. The Best of the 757 Showcase Series is also sponsored by Tidewater Physical Therapy, TowneBank, POWERADE, ODU, CNU, the US Air Force, Hometown Heroes,http://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;BragStats.com and Cox Channel 11. For more information please visit http://www.facebook.com/l/14d5d;www.bestofthe757.com