Local, national stars shine at annual John Wall Holiday Invitational

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Some of the top prep basketball players in the country are in Raleigh this weekend, behind one of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the country, the John Wall Holiday Invitational.

The 53rd annual tournament tipped off on Friday at Broughton and Southeast Raleigh high schools, welcoming more than 30 of the top local and national high school basketball teams.

On the boys side, 13 teams hail from the state of North Carolina, including Wake County's Broughton (boys host), Garner, Millbrook, and Southeast Raleigh (girls host), while 14 girls teams are from our state.

Perhaps the most important mission behind the tournament is the cause it serves. Partnering with the Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation, proceeds of the tourney go toward scholarships for seniors in the Triangle area.

Each year, 10 local high school seniors are awarded $5,000 scholarships to begin their college experience.

"It's huge. We give all of our proceeds to scholarships," said Bill Sewell, longtime tournament director. "I've got to give a lot of credit to John Wall. He's really been super important for the scholarship program, and I think that it's really important to him to reach back and give to the kids."

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App