The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball program, under 13th-year head coach Randy Baruth, invites basketball fans to the 11th annual Louis O'Neal High School Classic that takes place Saturday, Nov. 30 in the James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena inside the Ryder Center. A backup date for the event in case of postponement due to weather is Sunday, Dec. 1.
The classic showcases 12 top-caliber teams from the state of Michigan, including local varsity programs featuring the Great Lakes Bay Region's top talent. This year's game schedule is:
- 12:00 pm: Bay City John Glenn vs Mt. Pleasant
- 1:30 pm: Birch Run vs Caro
- 3:00 pm: Flint Powers vs Imlay City
- 4:30 pm: Saginaw Heritage vs Rochester Adams
- 6:00 pm: Grand Blanc vs Riverview Gabriel Richard
- 7:30 pm: Freeland vs De La Salle
"Our program is very excited about this year's lineup for the Louis O'Neal High School Classic," Coach Baruth said. "We have a great mixture of local teams right in our backyard and high-level talent from around the state. It is going to be a great day of hoops inside O'Neill Arena!"
The SVSU Men's Basketball Program is also welcoming back DJ Woo Beatz to the sideline who will provide music and entertainment all day long. "DJ Woo Beatz did a fantastic job last year with the vibes, mixing old school and new school music! We are excited to have him back for the Classic this year too," Coach Baruth added. He can be followed on social media @OneWooSound.
Ticket information along with more detailed information specifically about the Classic will be released later.
Louis O'Neal was a four-year letter winner for the Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball program from 1979-1982. Louis had a stellar career for the Cardinals, becoming the school's all-time scoring leader with 2,255 points, 997 field goals, and 213 steals. He played in 116 career games (currently 4th) for the Cardinals, earning All-GLIAC and All-NAIA District 23 honors in all four years. Louis was named to the First Team NAIA All-American squad in his 1981-82 senior season, as well as earning NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors in the 1980-81 campaign. He still holds the Saginaw Valley and GLIAC record for field goals in a game with 21. He was a part of two NAIA District 23 postseason teams, including the 1979-80 squad that claimed the GLIAC championship and advanced to the national tournament. Louis prepped at Saginaw High School, where he was a member of the 1976 Class A State Runner-Up team. Following his collegiate career, Louis played basketball overseas in Portugal. He passed away June 11, 2016, at the age of 55. In 2024, O'Neal was selected for induction into the SVSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
