A Classic New Name for a Classic Event

With a nod to the past and looking to the future, it is with great pride and excitement that the Grand Blanc boys basketball program is renaming our annual showcase event "The Charlie Carmody Best of the Best Classic" (or for short, “The Carmody Classic”). The event, formerly known as the Gottagetit Hoop Classic, began in 2019 and has been held annually at Grand Blanc High School the first Saturday in January, bringing together some of the best high school basketball talent in Michigan. In past years, the Classic has seen as many as 15-20 future division one college players participate, and it has been recognized as the best showcase event in Michigan.

The Voice of the Bobcats, Charlie Carmody

Charlie Carmody was a 1980 graduate of Grand Blanc High School, and subsequently a math teacher at the school for nearly a quarter-century until his death in 2017 at the age of 54. He was also the founder & President of the Grand Blanc High School Alumni Association, and a beloved fixture in the Grand Blanc community. What he was perhaps best known for though was his role as “The Voice of the Bobcats,” serving as the public address announcer for Grand Blanc sporting events for 33 seasons. It was a perfect fit for him because, dating back to his student days as a red-clad, megaphone-toting superfan, nobody loved Grand Blanc sports more than he did. His passion for the Bobcats exuded through his voice, whether he was calling a basketball game, a football game, track & field, or some other event. 

Charlie’s wife Chris and his children, Jon and Olivia, are still fixtures at Grand Blanc sporting events, with Jon often now manning the microphone that made his father The Voice of the Bobcats. 

"Charlie was more than just 'The Voice of the Bobcats' though," noted Grand Blanc Athletic Director, Jerrod Dohm. "In many ways, he was the personification of the Bobcats. His name being added to this event is just one more way that his legacy will live on as a part of Grand Blanc Athletics."

New boys basketball Head Coach Tory Jackson was the one who first suggested naming the event after Charlie. "One of my goals in becoming the coach at Grand Blanc," Jackson stated, "is to make sure we honor those who have come before us and made a positive impact on the kids and community. Charlie Carmody was a staple in the Grand Blanc community, so I thought renaming our winter classic after him would be a great way to honor such an amazing person."

Follow @CarmodyClassic on Twitter to stay up to date on more information about the event, and visit CarmodyClassic.com.