John Sullivan

The voice coming through the other end of the phone Monday night was forlorn. It was first-year Griffin High head basketball coach Calvin Sinkfield.

“We didn’t have a very good season,” he said of a 9-15 campaign that finished before the Region 4-AAAA playoffs even started.

That was expected.

New coach.

New game plan.

New scheme.

And a lot of new up-and-coming faces.

“We need to do something to make money,” he added.

That, too, was also expected. After all, the Bears weren’t exactly packing them in at The House this season.

So in an effort to raise funds, Griffin High basketball will be hosting The Court Kingz Street Ball Tour 7 p.m., Friday.

It’s Sinkfield’s first venture into major fund-raising in his new job. It’s a well-placed shot.

The ESPN-style street ball game will feature players who have been seen on ESPN’s And 1 Mixtape Tour and ESPN’s City SLAM, including: AO, Sky High, Dunker’s Delight, 50 (for his 50-inch verticle) and trick dribbling expert Made-4-TV.

They will be tipping off against a local team comprised of: Darrin Hancock, Kemo Spear, Randrick Coggins, Sidney Harris, Derrick Stroud, Marco Clemons, Charlie Clemons, Nic Clemons, Wiley Henly, O.J. Parks, Larry Robinson, Senquez Jester, Eddie Adams, Willie Puckett, Antiard Duraham and more.

A positive message along with inspirational music will be played throughout the evening. The motivational message will be from founder Victor Martinez, who in 2007 impacted more than 80,000 youth and has been featured periodically on TBN, Daystar and Club 32.

Jonathan Phillips will perform a halftime and postgame show.

Tickets are being sold for $10 and can be purchased at Heaven 2Earth bookstore in advance or at the door Friday night at Griffin High School.

Sponsors include Court Vision sports, Special Occasions and Jonathan Phillips.

Sullivan  is the sports editor at the Griffin Daily News.