ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS - The West Virginia State University men's basketball team will return to the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023 for the annual YES USVI Classic tournament. The Yellow Jackets will defend their title on Dec. 15th-17th.

West Virginia State will play the University of Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 15th at 3:15 p.m. in the opening round of the tournament. Other schools participating in this year's tournament include Clinton College, Claflin University, University of the Virgin Islands, Virginia State University, Bloomfield College and Allen University.

Head Coach Bryan Poore recorded his 400th career victory in the championship game of last year's YES USVI Classic when No. 16 WVSU defeated Tusculum, 73-59.  This year's tournament will follow the same three-day format with four quarterfinal games being played on the first day. The semifinal games will take place on the second day with the championship being decided on the final day.

The University of the Virgin Islands will host the 2023 YES USVI Classic at the Eldridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center. The 64,000-square-foot arena seats up to 3,000 persons and boasts a VIP sky box/public relations area. It is the premier athletic facility of its type in the Caribbean.   

Live streaming of the YES USVI Classic will be available at a cost of $5.99 per day. Access to the live streams can be purchased at https://yesviclassic.booktix.net/. More information on the tournament as it becomes available can be found at https://www.yesusviclassic.com/.

The tournament hosts, Young Entrepreneurz Solutions (YES), are a 501(c)(3) organization specializing in teaching middle and high school aged youth the foundations of entrepreneurship and economic development across the US and the Caribbean. Former Rutgers University award-winning Adjunct Professor Ernest Ruffin, Jr. founded the organization with the intent to give young people in underserved communities the tools to succeed in business and create economic opportunities for themselves and their respective communities. Ruffin's organization boasts nearly 2,500 students who actively participate in YES Business Plan Challenges to prepare them for future entrepreneurial success.