The Gus Macker Basketball Tournament is returning to the Twin Cities. Historically held in downtown St. Paul, the tournament will be presented by destination marketing organization Minneapolis Northwest Tourism and held at North Hennepin Community College on Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18.
The Gus Macker is a 3v3 basketball tournament where games are played to 21 points on a half-court. All ages and skill levels are encouraged to sign up. The fee is $200 per team (four players total).
A family-focused weekend event, the goal of the tournament is to raise funds for six local non-profits that focus on youth athletics and mentorship. Recipient organizations include the Minnesota Chill Foundation, The Inner Hero, Brooklyn Park Athletic Association, Hawa’s Wings, Forward Thinking, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities.
The minds behind the 2024 edition gathered at North Hennepin Community College on June 12 for a press conference to discuss the tournament and the organizations partnering with it.
Cyd Haynes, CEO of Minneapolis Northwest Tourism and chair of the Twin Cities Gus Macker committee said, “We are excited to bring back this legacy charity event that is a beloved family festival. We believe these two days in August will not only bring together Twin Cities’ sports enthusiasts, but welcome alumni Gus Macker players traveling to Brooklyn Park from all around the country. Winners get a trophy at the end of the tournament, and our six recipient organizations can magnify their long-lasting impact in the community.”
Gus Macker celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The original tournament was started by Scott McNeal, who invited eighteen of his neighborhood friends to play over the weekend on his parent’s driveway during March Madness. The tournament continued to gain popularity, eventually hit the road in 1987, and has become a staple in recreational sports across the country. Since then, the Macker tour has expanded, holding 1500+ tournaments with more than 2.8 million players, male and female from seven years of age to 50+.
Chill Foundation co-founder Cindy Hill added that the Gus Macker has a strong focus on family and community building on and off the court.
“Gus Macker is a family-fueled place for everyone to play. ... This is a community event with community activities for everyone,” Hill explained. “There will be music, food and kids activities and we are very excited to have this one-of-a-kind event here at our great city. There will be a special alumni get-together on [Aug. 16]. ... Basketball may be what brings you to our organization, but participants are also learning life skills by playing the game.”
Forward Thinking Foundation founder Derray Ward, who has also coached youth basketball in Brooklyn Park for years, explained how the event will also host a lot of special games and activities to get people engaged.
“It’s exciting and fun, it brings people of all ages and ethnicities together through basketball. We’ll have special games, like our mascot game, celebrity game, coaches tournament, the hero tournament, as well as three-point and free throw contests,” Ward said. “The highlight will be the dunk contest, the winner of which gets a $500 reward. The special events at the Gus Macker are always special.”
Twin Cities Gus Macker Operations Director Jen Durdahl-Johnson noted that the 2024 Twin Cities Gus Macker is hoping to put a spotlight on the metro’s ever-growing women’s basketball scene.
“We really want to welcome female players. We know we have a great, diverse female population of basketball players in the metro area and we encourage them to play,’ Durdahl-Johnson said. “We would like to break the national record this year for female teams, which make up 20 percent of Gus Macker tournaments.”
The press conference had a star moment when six-year WNBA player Tamara Moore, who is a Gus Macker alumna and won the 1998 Minnesota Ms. Basketball in 1998 while playing for Minneapolis North, approached the podium. The current head coach at the Mesabi Range College men’s basketball team spoke about how the tournament provided a starting point for her journey.
“All of the accolades I was able to accomplish had to have a starting point,” Moore said. “When I was a youth, Gus Macker was a part of my start. My team actually won four straight championships from 1995 to 1998. It was always something to really put ourselves into, it wasn’t just about basketball. It was about playing outside and around the community. ... It’s really exciting for me to be involved now in the back end of a project like the Gus Macker.”
Registration for the tournament can be completed at macker.com/local/brooklyn-park. The deadline is July 29.
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