A chance to play a quality opponent in an arena setting has helped Hamilton Christian’s Martin Luther King Classic grow into one of the largest high school basketball events in the state.

Last year the event expanded to a three-day format. That continues this year, with more than 50 teams participating in the event, to be played Saturday through Monday at Burton Coliseum.

“Coaches from all over call,” Hamilton boys head coach Dexter Washington said. “It is a chance for them to get a game in the arena setting.

“With the way the playoffs are structured now, you don’t get a chance to practice at the arena if you make state. So if you think you have a chance to make the final four, this is a chance to play in an arena setting. It is difficult to get used to shooting in that setting. Other teams that may not be going to state want to come to give their kids and fans the experience of playing in a big arena.”

The event will feature 23 girls teams and 28 boys teams. The girls field includes four state champions from last season – Ponchatoula, Lafayette Christian, St. Louis Catholic and Fairview. The boys field features defending state champion North Central and a trio of runners-up in Lafayette Christian, Calvary Baptist and Wossman.

Area participants include Oakdale, Barbe girls, Grand Lake, LaGrange, Rosepine girls, Fairview, Bell City girls, Hathaway girls, St. Louis girls and Lake Charles College Prep boys.

Top matchups include LCCP vs. Franklin boys, Ponchatoula vs. Fairview girls, Iowa vs. New Iberia boys and Ponchatoula vs. Wossman in boys and girls.

“The matchups are key,” Washington said. “Coaches want a chance to improve their power ratings. The Oak Hill coach said they wanted to be challenged, so they get St. Louis to start and also play Lafayette. The Avoyelles Charter boys play Southwood in a big power points game. I can’t guarantee anyone that they will win, but I can give them a chance to boost their power ratings.”

Among the top individual players will be East Feliciana junior Trey’Dez Green, a 6-foot-7 junior who is ranked as the No. 24 football recruit in the country by 247sports.com. Green plays receiver and is being recruited as a tight end with offers from Alabama, Colorado, LSU, Florida State, Texas A&M and Michigan State. Washington said he is dominant on the hardwood as well.

“He dominates the paint and rebounding,” Washington said. “I’ve seen him do it on the summer circuit and he does it at the high school level as well.”

East Feliciana will play Alexandria at 12:45 p.m. Sunday.

Other returning first- or second-team all-state players in the boys field are Lafayette Christian’s Kam Williams, North Central’s Devion Lavergne, Fairview’s Bret Jinks and Anacoco’s Dustin Welch. The girls field features Paris Guillory of St. Louis, Mikaylah Manley of Barbe, Chrysta Narcisse of Lafayette, Da’Naya Ross of Wossman, Na’Kiya Allen and Rhianna Battles of Northwood-Lena, Reese Jinks and Bella Smith of Fairview and Alexis Dyer of Oak Hill.

Hamilton Christian/

Martin Luther King Classic

At Burton Coliseum

Saturday

Anacoco vs. Opelousas, 8:45 a.m. (girls)

Anacoco vs. Beau Chene, 10 a.m. (boys)

Rosepine vs. J.S. Clark, 11:15 a.m. (girls)

Fairview vs. North Central, 12:30 p.m. (boys)

St. Louis Catholic vs. Oak Hill, 1:45 p.m. (girls)

Fairview vs. Ponchatoula, 3 p.m. (girls)

Grand Lake vs. Holden, 4:15 p.m. (boys)

Lafayette Christian vs. Calvary Baptist, 5:30 p.m. (boys)

Hamilton Christian vs. Ville Platte, 6:45 p.m. (girls)

Lafayette Christian vs. Northwood-Lena, 8 p.m. (girls)

Hamilton Christian vs. Ville Platte, 9:15 p.m. (boys)

Sunday

Opelousas vs. Carencro, 9 p.m. (girls)

J.S. Clark vs. Oakdale, 10:15 a.m. (boys)

Scotlandville-Northwood-Lena, 11:30 a.m. (girls)

Alexandria vs. East Feleciana, 12:45 p.m. (boys)

Avoyelles Charter vs. Southwood, 2 p.m. (boys)

East Ascension vs. Evangel, 3:15 p.m. (boys)

Ponchatoula vs. Wossman, 4:30 p.m. (girls)

Barbe vs. Northside, 7 p.m. (girls)

Rayville vs. North Central, 8:15 p.m. (boys)

Monday

Bell City vs. Oakdale, 9 a.m. (girls)

Epsicopal of Acadiana vs Oakdale, 10:15 a.m. (boys)

Scotlandville vs. Fairview, 11:30 a.m. (girls)

LaGrange vs. Fairview, 12:45 p.m. (boys)

Lafayette vs. Oak Hill, 2 p.m. (girls)

Hathaway vs. Northside, 3:15 p.m. (girls)

Acadiana vs. LaGrange, 4:30 p.m. (girls)

Iowa vs. New Iberia, 5:45 p.m. (boys)

Lake Charles College Prep vs. Franklin, 7 p.m. (boys)