The 'Iolani Prep Classic now has company as host of a December basketball tournament featuring Mainland powers and top local teams.

The inaugural Merv Lopes Holiday Classic, with a 16-team field including perennial power Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), California defending state champion El Toro and Utah defending state champion Timpview (Provo) along with five-time defending Hawai'i state champion 'Iolani, will tip off Dec. 27 and continue through Dec. 30 at King Armory in Kane'ohe.

The 12 other teams are Baldwin, Castle, Hilo, Kalaheo, Kamehameha, Kea'au, Leilehua, Mililani, Nanakuli, Punahou, Thompson and Waialua.

"We're not trying to out-do the 'Iolani Classic," said tournament director Sol Batoon, the head coach at Thompson. "This is all about honoring Merv and giving our local kids an opportunity to play basketball on a higher level."

Lopes, the former Kailua, Kalaheo and Chaminade University coach, has been a friend and mentor to Batoon since 1977. He is best known for coaching Chaminade to a 1982 victory over No. 1-ranked Virginia, regarded by many as the biggest upset in college basketball history.

"My primary thought was to honor Merv, who has contributed in so many ways to basketball in this state, in this country and even internationally," said Batoon, who was an assistant to Lopes at Chaminade. "We lost a couple great coaches recently, with (Radford's late) Jim Alegre and (Kalaheo's) Pete Smith, and they left a legacy with their success and have tournaments named after them. But I didn't want to wait until Merv was gone before we honored him. Plus, he's a hands-on guy, so we can still use his knowledge and experience."

Lopes, who appeared at a press conference yesterday at St. Francis School announcing the tournament, said he was "shocked" with the honor.

"This was all Sol's vision, to put this together," said Lopes, 74, who lives in Kona.

Batoon said he began assembling the tournament in May with eight teams committed, but then more called asking to be invited.

"We actually got Montrose through ('Iolani Classic director) Glenn Young," said Batoon, noting that Montrose and its head coach, Stu Vetter, have been frequent participants in the 'Iolani Classic. "The 'Iolani tournament built the foundation and brought national notoriety to Hawai'i, and (Mainland teams) realize this is a good environment to have a tournament. We already have a team from Alabama and four or five from New Jersey that are interested in coming next year, so this is going to grow."

Batoon said sponsors such as Pagoda Hotel and Servco Toyota will help with taking care of tournament expenses.

St. Francis, where Batoon works as a teacher, will provide staff support and Castle will serve as the host school.

'IOLANI CLASSIC SET

The 23rd Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic begins tomorrow with a pair of Division II games.

At 6:30 p.m., Christian Academy will play Parker, followed by Lutheran vs. Hana at 8.

The Division I teams begin play Monday with four games: Campbell vs. Georgetown (Bethesda, Md.) at 3:30, Kaimuki vs. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) at 5, Mililani vs. Fairfax (Los Angeles) at 6:30 and Kamehameha vs. Vincent (Milwaukee, Wis.) at 8.

On Tuesday, 'Iolani will play McKinley at 3:30 p.m., followed by Moanalua vs. White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) at 5, Radford vs. St. Dominic (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) at 6:30 and Saint Louis vs. LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.) at 8.

All games will be played at 'Iolani's lower gym.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.