December 16th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Allegany College of Maryland is proud to host the inaugural Franchise Classic Basketball Tournament coined after NBA All-Star, NBA Co-Rookie of the Year, University of Maryland stand out, former JUCO All American, and ACM Trojans men’s basketball player, Steve Francis. This Saturday, December 17th, 2022 the first of a four-game classic tournament starts at 1:30 pm. A Variety of Competitive Basketball. Local high school boys’ basketball teams will be guests at The Bob Kirk Arena set to tip off Saturday, December 17th at 1:30pm. Fort Hill High School Sentinels Boys Basketball (Cumberland, Md.) will match up against Broadfording Academy Lions Boys Basketball (Hagerstown, Md.) for the first game of four. The second game will feature Southern Garrett High School Rams Boys Basketball versus Francis Scott Key High School Eagles Boys Basketball at 3:15 pm. After, Bishop Walsh Spartans Boys Basketball (Cumberland, Md.) returns to ACM fresh off their competition in the Bob Kirk Invitational Showcase, in which they faced two competitive NIBC squads last weekend. The Spartans will match up against Bishop McNamara High School Mustangs Boys Basketball (Forestville, Md.) at 6:00 pm. The Allegany College of Maryland Men’s Trojans will face long-time rival Garrett College Lakers (McHenry, Md.) and tip off is set for 7:00 pm. “When Steve Francis returned earlier this year and we got so much positive feedback from decades long of community support, we quickly knew we would partner for a tournament in his honor. We had worked together over the summer and fall to solidify the teams to be guests at Bob Kirk Arena,” said Tommie Reams, athletic director at Allegany College of Maryland. An Allegany College of Maryland and JUCO All-American.

Francis played under Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Bob Kirk at Allegany Community College, now Allegany College of Maryland, during the 1997-1998 season. Francis became the first player to take two unbeaten teams into the National Junior College Tournament: one being The Trojans. In a game for The Trojans, he recorded a quadruple double against Shawn Marion, a long-time rival from Vincennes University. Francis transferred from ACM to the University of Maryland to catapult the Terrapins that season to a #2 national ranking. He finished the season averaging 17 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game. He was a consensus second-team All-American and was named a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year Awards. “The Franchise” led the Terps to a 28-6 record, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and earned first-team All-ACC honors in his lone collegiate season. A 10-Year NBA Career. After UMD, Francis embarked on a 10-year NBA career, predominantly with the Houston Rockets and later with the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks. He was a contestant in the NBA’s Dunk Contest and earned Co-Rookie of the Year honors in 1999-2000, as well as being selected as the second overall pick in the NBA draft. Currently, Francis works with The Steve Francis Foundation which supports at-risk youth with educational and recreational opportunities. Above all else, his pride and joy are his two children, Shailyn and Steven Jr.