Prep Basketball King Holiday Hoopfest -- Dunks, Diversity Prevail - - Hoopfest Celebrates Holiday In Meaning

A day can make a difference.

The first King Holiday Hoopfest was a tremendous success, 2,600 people packing Brougham Pavilion at Seattle Pacific University yesterday, Mercer Island outlasting Franklin in a spirited and well-played battle of the No. 1's, a true celebration of dunks and diversity.

In basketball terms, the midseason meeting of titans from different parts of the county was perfect, a prelude to the state tournament. But the event was better as the centerpiece for an important holiday.

The voice of Martin Luther King Jr. roared through the darkened pavilion after the Franklin-Mercer Island game, the crowd applauding as King talked about a time when people would be judged "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Ron Drayton, Franklin boys basketball coach, was asked if he had talked to his players about the importance of the affair, honoring King, the civil rights leader slain nearly 30 years ago.

"I have all black kids on my team," he said. "They know what it means."

A more significant impact might have been on Elliott Prasse-Freeman. The Mercer Island junior had 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals in the 59-53 overtime victory over Franklin. He stood with teammates after the game and listened to the recording of King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

"Mercer Island is just that, an island," he said. "You spend so much time on the island, around so many white people, that you become desensitized to minorities.

"This was a chance to play against a team we'd never otherwise get a chance to play, and to think about what the Martin Luther King holiday is really about."

The three-game tournament was the brainchild of the Sonics' Sam Perkins, who collaborated with Coach George Karl to produce it. In their absence another former North Carolina player, Kenny Smith, spoke to the audience.

He talked about the players taking the traits that had made them successful in basketball and using them in real life, to be as good as people as they were as players.

"It is too easy to stand around and do nothing when there are casual jokes about race," said Prasse-Freeman. "I'm going to step forward and try to do something. I'm on the school paper. Change starts with each of us. I want to do my part."

Perkins and Karl did their part, even though a skeptic might wonder how much they cared because they were in Houston for a game against the Rockets. The cynicism didn't even hit the rim.

Franklin's Drayton talked about how it all began.

"George Karl invited a bunch of coaches to a Sonics game and took time afterwards to talk basketball with us, and to talk about this game.

"He was cordial and sincere. A good human being."

He was also a wonderful match-maker, putting together the Franklin-Mercer Island game last summer, even though he couldn't have known they'd be ranked No. 1 in their respective polls.

It is sometimes difficult to get a handle on Karl, whose habitual whine about his lack of a long-term contract with the Sonics gets old, especially when they stuck with him after consecutive first-round losses in the playoffs.

But there is another side of the man.

Last Tuesday the Sonics lost their second game in a row, a much-hyped game at Chicago against the Bulls.

The next night Karl was on Bainbridge Island, helping raise money for junior golf, regaling islanders with inside-the-NBA stuff, staying longer than they expected.

On Thursday he was at Franklin High, speaking to students about the MLK holiday and the first Hoopfest. That night the Sonics played Miami. The next day Karl was on the road again, at Lincoln High in Tacoma and then to the far reaches of White River High in Buckley, where he stumped again for the event.

Saturday was the game with Cleveland and Shawn Kemp, last night Houston.

"George and Sam are both genuine, you can feel that," said Randy Novak, who ran the event in their absence. "I can't even describe how disappointed they were not being here."

Karl is doing his part in the community. Two weeks ago he was at the Washington-WSU men's basketball game and took a turn directing the UW band. He then made a point to spend time after the game with beleaguered WSU Coach Kevin Eastman.

Karl has sponsored high-school basketball teams in the past, but giving money is not as important as giving of yourself. He is doing that. In the spirit of MLK.

You can contact Blaine Newnham by voice mail at 206-464-2364.