The feel of stepping into the new Lake Washington High School Gymnasium is different from the old gym. The new gym is bright, feels more open and is, of course, sparkling new.

The public will get its first look at the gym this weekend as the Lake Washington boys basketball team will host the Kang Klassic basketball tournament June 25-27.

“We are excited to have the Lake Washington community see what a beautiful gymnasium we have,” said Lake Washington High School Athletic Director George Crowder.

Crowder said the school has a plan to get people in and out of the gym, as the whole school has been under construction for the better part of two years.

“We have parking in the lower lot and people will have to walk through the school to get to the gymnasium,” said Crowder. “We had to limit our activities this summer but this should be a great event.”

The parking situation may be an issue but Crowder said that as long as people are patient it shouldn’t be a problem.

The tournament will play host to some of the best high school teams in the state as the field includes: Lake Washington, Roosevelt, Bothell, Juanita, Chief Sealth, Glacier Peak, Foster, Stadium, Kentwood, River Ridge, Eastside Catholic and Mount Si. Five of the teams qualified for the state tournament last winter.

The tournament will feature 25 games over three days. Juanita will begin pool play with Roosevelt and Glacier Peak, while the Kangs will have Eastside Catholic and Mount Si to contend with.

One of the reasons for the tournament is the new gym. But the turnaround of the basketball program has made it easier to host the tournament.

“Barry (Johnson the Lake Washington boys basketball head coach) did a great job last season, winning the Crown Division and going to State,” said Crowder. “We are all really excited about the team. It is nice to use the new gym to showcase the program.”

The team’s turnaround last winter was nothing less than amazing as they went from worst to first in the division.

Matt Phelps contributed to this story.

Kang Klassic schedule

Friday, June 25

5 p.m.

Sealth vs. Mount Si

Juanita vs. Bothell

6:15 p.m.

Roosevelt vs. Foster

Kentwood vs. Eastside

7:30 p.m.

LW vs. Glacier Peak

Stadium vs. River Ridge

Saturday, June 26

10 a.m.

Bothell vs. Sealth

Juanita vs. Glacier Peak

11:15 a.m.

Kentwood vs. Foster

Eastside vs. Mount Si

12:30 p.m.

Sealth vs. Stadium

Glacier P. vs. Roosevelt

1:45 p.m.

LW vs. Mount Si

River R. vs. Foster

3 p.m.

Bothell vs. Stadium

Juanita vs. Roosevelt

4:15 p.m.

Eastside vs. LW

Kentwood vs. River Ridge

Sunday, June 27

Placing games

Championship at 1:45 p.m.