MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUTING IN D.C.

Written by: Amanda Szylin  

The 103rd AAU National Men’s Basketball Championship, presented by the JV Warrior Boys and III Aces Basketball Team, will be held on June 6-8. For the first time ever, this tournament will be held in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Tournament Coordinator, Ulysses McFadden, was a former participant in this tournament with the III Aces Basketball Club in 1999 in Des Moines, Iowa and again in 2005 in Sacramento, where they placed 4th in the entire tournament. Back then, their wish was to have this event in the nation’s capital and now, 15 years later, III Aces will host the National Men’s Basketball Championship in Washington, D.C. To make it even more special, the games will be held on the courts at H.D. Woodson Senior High School, McFadden’s high school alma mater.

“It’s the President’s town. That should be an attraction to everyone and make them want to come to D.C.” McFadden said. “Playing for the first time in the nation’s capital…that should pull everybody.”

The entry fee for this event is $1,050, which includes a three game guarantee in pool play. The fee will also include individual and team awards. First place will receive $4,000, individual medals, and championship tee shirts. Second, third, and fourth place will all receive individual medals and a cash award, as well.

The tournament will be played by NCAA rules, with a 24-second shot clock. All players and coaches must be registered with the AAU prior to the tournament and all player rosters are to be forwarded no later than May 3rd.

Many of the AAU members that are participating in the National Men’s Basketball Championship also competed in AAU youth tournaments when they were kids. Now, years later, sixteen teams, consisting of ten players each, will compete to claim the crown, but only one will take it home. McFadden thinks that’s the best part of the tournament.

“The winner will have bragging rights for the whole year,” McFadden said. “They are the national winner for AAU on the adult side.”

For more information on scheduling, registration and rules, please CLICK HERE.