Celebrity Guests

Alex English was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina; where he also played college basketball at the University of South Carolina. His professional career began when he was drafted in 1976 by the Milwaukee Bucks, but he is best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets where he played for more than 10 seasons. When he left the Nuggets, he held nearly every team record including most career points (21,645), assists (3,679), games (837), and minutes (29,893) in a Nuggets uniform. He is among the top scorers in NBA history, with 25,613 points and is an eight-time NBA All-Star. To describe his professional basketball career as elite would be an understatement.

Since retiring as a player, Alex has remained involved with the NBA, serving as a coach in the Development League (now known as the G League) and in the NBA. He was the first director of player programs for the National Basketball Players Association and has traveled around the globe as an ambassador for sports for the U.S. Department of State. He now serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina, and is on the national board for Family Promise. This is his second year hosting this tournament to raise funds for Family Promise of the Midlands.

Corey Miller, aka the Pastor of Pain, was a linebacker with the NY Giants for six seasons following the 1991 NFL draft. Originally from Pageland, SC; he played collegiate football for the Gamecocks and has been inducted into the SC Football Hall of Fame. He remains an active presence in the Midlands community.

Artis Gilmore started his illustrious career in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, after spending several seasons in the ABA playing for the Kentucky Colonels. Artis was a dominant player who earned ABA Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player Award during the 1971-1972 seasons. He won countless awards during his professional career that led to his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Donnie Shell played football at SC State University before an NFL career that included 14 seasons with four Super Bowl rings as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Among his many accolades, he was a five-time Pro Bowler, a 4-time All Pro selection, and the 1980 Steelers team MVP. Shell was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020 following his unbelievable career as a strong safety.

Lafayette "Fat" Lever was a first-round pick, selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1982 draft. He is considered one of the NBA's best point guards in the 1980s, playing for 6 seasons with the Denver Nuggets. He is a two-time NBA All-Star who is 11th on the all-time list of most triple-doubles in the regular season and his #12 jersey has been retired by the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Denver Nuggets.

Ralph Sampson is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall-of-Famer, inducted in 2011. At 7'4" tall, he was a three-time college national player of the year, was the first overall pick in the 1983 draft, spending four years with the Houston Rockets before continuing his career with the Warriors. He is a four-time NBA All-Star who is regarded as one of the greatest players in ACC history, due to his exceptional play while at the University of Virginia.