Learn the history behind the tournament
Here is a list of the Best of the Best tournament champions of the MLK Tournament over the years
Would you like to play in the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Invitational Basketball Tournament?
“To provide recreational pleasure through athletic competition for underprivileged young men and women in the inner city and to represent athletic success with emphasis placed on academic excellence.” These few words summarize the primary objective of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational Basketball tournament is symbolic of its namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose philosophy was “Living the Dream.” Therefore, in living the dream to help youngsters, the late Lloyd Williams of Hamilton High School and Vertis Sails of Melrose High School organized the tournament. Participating high schools were Carver, Douglas, Hamilton, Lester, Melrose, Mitchell, Northside, Southside, and Booker T. Washington. Carrying the torch today is Coach Robert Newman of Melrose High School, who has struggled, with limited resources, to keep the dream alive. Thanks to community support, the tournament continues to grow and serve young people!
The first basketball tournament was held in December of 1971, and the winner was Northside High School, coached by Marion Brewer at Melrose High School. Hamilton High became the host school in 1992. Coaches in attendance were Marion Brewer of Northside High School, Ed. Thornton of Carver High School, Tim Morgan of Mitchell Road High School, Jake Peacock of Lester High School, and William “Bill” Little of Booker T. Washington High School. Melrose High School was the site of the tournament until 1992, at which time Hamilton High School became the host school. Before the creation of the MLK Invitational Tournament, inner-city youth (as a group) were denied the opportunity to participate in other Memphis and Mid-South Area Tournaments.
Today, the tournament is viewed as one of the most competitive tournaments in the United States. In 2015, there were a total of 64 participating teams. Coaches from the country come to Memphis to scout potential college basketball players. Being observed by these coaches is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for most of these players. Young ladies began participating in the tournament in 1993, and the middle schools began participating in 2009. 2023 marks the 52nd year of the tournament.
Check out this great video
Boys High School Champions
1971 Northside High School
1972 Melrose High School
1973 Melrose High School
1974 Northside High School
1975 Hamilton High School
1976 Hamilton High School
1977 Melrose High School
1978 Northside High School
1979 Northside High School
1980 Messick High School
1981 Melrose High School
1982 Westwood High School
1983 Melrose High School
1984 Hamilton High School
1985 Westwood High School
1986 Hamilton High School
1987 Westwood High School
1988 Westwood High School
1989 Fairley High School
1990 Southside High School
1991 Treadwell High School
1992 Kingsbury High School
1993 Hillcrest High School
1994 Fairley High School
1995 Hamilton High School
1996 Northside High School
1997 Northside High School
1998 Hamilton High School
1999 Hamilton High School
2000 Carver High School
2001 Whitehaven High School
2002 Fairley High School
2003 Sheffield High School
2004 Hamilton High School
2005 Hamilton High School
2006 Hamilton High School
2007 Fairley High School
2008 Nashville CA
2009 Melrose High School
2010 Melrose High School
2011 Memphis Central High School
2012 Melrose High School
2013 Potters House Christian
2014 Houston High School
2015 Memphis East High School
2016 WEB DuBois Arts & Technology
2017 Hamilton High School
2018 Kirby High School
2019 Whitehaven High School
2021 Whitehaven High School
2022 Cordova High School
2023 Cordova High School
Boys Middle School Champions
2012 Cordova Middle School
2013 Lester Middle School
2014 Cordova Middle School
2015 Bellevue Middle School
2016 White Station Middle School
2017 Bellevue Middle School
2018 Havenview Middle School
2019 Havenview Middle School
2021 Havenview Middle School
2022 White Station Middle School
2023 White Station Middle School
Girls High School Champions
1993 Hamilton High School
1994 Hamilton High School
1995 Hamilton High School
1996 Hamilton High School
1997 Hamilton High School
1998 Hamilton High School
1999 Hamilton High School
2000 Hamilton High School
2001 Melrose High School
2002 Memphis East High School
2003 Craigmont High School
2004 Craigmont High School
2005 Hillcrest High School
2006 Hillcrest High School
2007 Memphis East High School
2008 Millington Central High School
2009 Millington Central High School
2010 Parkview High School
2011 White Station High School
2012 Memphis East High School
2013 Overton High School
2014 Craigmont High School
2015 Memphis Central High School
2016 Whitehaven High School
2017 Olive Branch High School
2018 Olive Branch High School
2019 Olive Branch High School
2021 Arlington High School
2022 Briarcrest Christian School
2023 Wenonah High School (Ala)
Girls Middle School Champions
2012 Hickory Ridge Middle School
2013 Snowden Middle School
2014 Cordova Middle School
2015 Cordova Middle School
2016 Colonial Middle School
2017 Colonial Middle School
2018 Havenview Middle School
2019 West Collierville Middle School
2021 Lowrance Middle School
2022 White Station Middle School
Africa in April-Yvonne & David L. Acey, Sr.
Chelsea Clinic-Dr. Gloria Pryor
China Inn-Carolyn Kent
City Councilwoman Jamita Swearengen
Congressman Steve Cohen
Crumpy's Restaurant-Donald Crump
Four Way Grill-Patrice Thompson
Germantown Baptist Church-Ed Mrok
Hamilton High School Alumni-Jake Mickens & Joyce Lindsey
Ian Clark (Jon Clark)
Urban Circle, LLC.-Dr. Nicole Newman
Keva Latham
King Cotton Meats-Earl Gregory
LeMoyne-Owen College/AAU-William Anderson
Little Ceasar's Pizza-Marty Matthews
Memphis Christian Center-Pastor Maurice Johnson
Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau-Kevin Kane, Malvin Gipson
Memphis Light, Gas and Water-Gale Jones Carson
Monogram Food Solutions-Karl Schiedwitz/Gennie Henry
Nike Inc.-Willie Gregory/Leslie McClora
RP Newman Realty-Robert Patrick Newman
R.S. Lewis Funeral Homes-Andre Jones
Prohibition Lounge-Robert Patrick Newman
School Seed Foundation-William Mitchell
Shelby County Board of County Commissioners-
Eddie Jones, Van Turner & Mickell Lowery
Shelby County Schools Security-Carolyn Jackson
Shelby County Sherriff Department-Floyd Bonner, Jr.
Specialty Physicians Group-Dr. Dwight Dishmon
Terminix-Lisa Manley
NBA Star-Thad Young
Memphis Fire Department-Thomas Nolan
Top Notch Security, Inc.-Alfred Washington
Uncle Lou's Chicken-Louis H. Martin III
W.T. Newman Construction & Landscaping Services-William Newman
Copyright © 2024 Youth Engineered Success - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.