The Longview News-Journal will host the 2016 East Texas Varsity Best Preps at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ETVarsity’s Best Preps will honor outstanding student athletes who attend high schools in the Longview News-Journal, Marshall News Messenger and Panola Watchman circulation areas. Nominees are invited to the Best Preps banquet, which will include dinner and feature keynote speaker Jim Morris, who had his rise from high school baseball coach to Major League Baseball relief pitcher chronicled in the 2002 movie "The Rookie", starring Dennis Quaid. More than 250 student athletes will be recognized during the dinner and awards ceremony, which will name the top overall male and female athletes, coach of the year and most outstanding athlete from each sport. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and go on sale Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Tickets are available online at https://www.etvarsity.com/bestpreps/tickets/ and at the following locations - Longview News-Journal, Marshall News Messenger, and The Panola Watchman. For further information, please contact April Moore at the Longview News-Journal, 903-232-7206, via email at amoore@news-journal.com or visit www.ETVarsityBestPreps.com.