The popular CJ2K outdoor basketball league will begin its sixth season late next month, but league organizers decided they also wanted to debut a showcase event following the high school season that just recently ended.

“We thought of the Dapper Dan, Shaq going up against Chris Pipkin,” said league co-founder Scott Alaksin. “We wanted to have the very best that ever played in the [CJ2K] league versus the world. It could have been Meleek [Thomas] or anyone in California or Texas. But realistically, with this being the inaugural season, we said let’s show love to Pittsburgh. We’ll bring in the best players from Pittsburgh to Erie and in between.”

And that’s how the CJ2K vs. The World “Bigger Than Basketball” Charity Classic came about.

The event, which is expected to include many of the top players in the WPIAL and City League, will make its debut Saturday at Aliquippa High School. The girls game will tip off at 3 p.m. and the boys at 4:30 p.m.

“The hype is brewing, so it will be interesting to see how it goes,” Alaksin said. “We plan on having this every year. If we outgrow Aliquippa, maybe we’ll go to Duquesne or Robert Morris. But I think Aliquippa is a good starting point.”

Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets online instead of in person — $12 for adults and $8 for students — but they will be sold at the door, as well. All proceeds will go directly to the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Donations can also be made online.

“I’m looking forward to it because I think it brings back a true all-star game back to the Pittsburgh area,” said Beaver senior Brady Mayo, who ranked among the WPIAL’s top scorers with 26.2 points per game.

The stars will be out for this game, among them four of the five first-teamers on the PUP all-star team — Neighborhood Academy’s Courtney Wallace, Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichael, Chartiers Valley’s Jayden Davis and Upper St. Clair’s Tyler Robbins. Other top boys participating include Belle Vernon’s Zion Moore and Imani Christian’s RJ Sledge. Wallace, Carmichael, Davis and Moore are all 2,000-point scorers.

The girls rosters are loaded, as well, with 3,000-point scorer Iyanna Wade of Clairton being one of the headliners. Among the other top girls expected to attend are Greensburg Central Catholic’s Erica Gribble, Oakland Catholic’s London Creach and Kennedy Catholic’s Layke Fields.

“I think that’s the main draw of it,” Mayo said of the player pool. “Once I heard who was playing, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Alaksin said that the initial idea was to not charge players a fee for participating, but the problem that comes along with that is that it makes it very easy for players to back out. So, each player had to pay a $40 commitment fee, half of which goes toward two VIP tickets for the player’s family, with the other half being donated to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in the name of that player.

Sponsors stepped up in a big way, Alaksin said, two of the biggest ones being the Wilson Group and Shell. The Wilson Group paid for the uniforms, which, like the CJ2K League itself, has a throwback vibe to them. The players will receive complimentary jerseys showcasing the Pittsburgh Condors and Pittsburgh Pipers.

“We’re in a position to not have to spend money on uniforms,” Alaksin said, “so we said let’s raise money for Children’s Hospital.”

Along with the throwback jerseys, an old-school red, white and blue ball will be used, as well. The event will also include a saxophone national anthem performed by Aliquippa’s Derek Redd, DJ Budro playing music during the games, and Brandon Rossi as the public address announcer.

The games will be played with two 25-minute halves using a running clock. During the final two minutes of each game, a 4-point shot will come into play. If a shot is made from the Aliquippa logo in that time — Alaksin estimated it as being 35 feet — then that team is awarded four points instead of three.

After leading Neighborhood Academy to its first PIAA title last week, Courtney Wallace is one of the top players slated to play in Saturday’s CJ2K vs. The World “Bigger Than Basketball” Charity Classic. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

WPIAL hall of famer B.B. Flenory will be the honorary coach for the boys World team, with former Obama Academy star D.J. Porter serving as head coach. Ryan Nohe, an assistant at Lincoln Park, will coach the CJ2K squad.

On the girls’ side, Ellen Guillard, who guided Allderdice to a City League championship this season, will coach the World team, while former Quigley Catholic standout Taylor Kirschner will coach the CJ2K team. Kirschner, who Alaksin said has been the “engine of the car” that has gotten the event up and running, will be assisted by her dad, CJ2K director and Beaver girls coach Joe Kirschner. 

“It just sounded like a good opportunity and a really good cause. One of my players [Bailey White] is in it, as well, so I said, ‘Why not?’” Guillard explained.

Alaksin hopes that having so many talented players involved along with it being for a great cause will bring people to Beaver County on Saturday.

“I think it will be a good first year, but we can always achieve more,” he said. “Hopefully the crowd comes out. If not, shame on them. With all due respect to all of the other tournaments, this is the one game you have to get to. You’re not going to get another chance to see Rowan Carmichael go against Courtney Wallace. It’s a rare occasion, kind of like Halley’s Comet. So you better come through.”

Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.

Brad Everett

Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.