The Pizza Hut All-Star Basketball Classic was an annual American all-star game featuring senior men's college basketball players in the United States. The event was sanctioned by the NCAA and NAIA. It was one of the country's longest-running[citation needed] college all-star basketball games[a] starting in 1972 it was sponsored by Pizza Hut.
The All-Star Classic was started in 1972 by Pizza Hut with all its proceeds going to charity, the Pizza Hut Charities Foundation.[3][4][5] It was held on April 15, 1972, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. The following editions were also played at the same venue.
Former, Los Angeles Lakers player Elgin Baylor, was the commentator of the first Pizza Hut Basketball Classic which was televised by the CBS.[6]
The game was played annually between East and West selections. Pizza Hut cancelled the Classic after the 1982 edition to explore a "more all-encompassing approach" to their charitable contributions.[7][8]
Overall, the East recorded 6 wins and the West 5.[9]
Eight players of each team (East and West) were elected by popular vote, while the remaining two were selected by a national coaching media panel. The ballots for the players' selection were available at all Pizza Hut restaurants of the country and the participating colleges. USA's top 100 senior College basketball players were eligible for election. The majority of the voted players were also elected as NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans during the season.
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