This court is in session.

The sixth annual Greenport Summer Basketball Tournament — which has grown from just about 40 kids participating to now well over 100 — is bouncing right back onto the Third Street court on July 25.

“We have seen consistent growth each year,” said tournament co-founder Candace Hall. “When we broke 100 kids a few years ago, I was floored. We have kids that travel from out of state now to come.”

The idea for the tournament was born roughly eight years ago, when Ms. Hall and a group of friends began reminiscing about summers in Greenport during the early 1990s. They used to spend countless hours playing in their neighborhood basketball tournament, which soon became a staple. 

The tournament, organized by her aunt, Joanne “JoJo” Jackson, was held each year at the Third Street court, which was renamed in 2014 to honor four residents who had passed away at young ages. 

Ms. Hall wanted to recapture that sense of community and excitement she remembered growing up, but those plans were put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. A year later, the inaugural revival tournament finally tipped off, bringing a piece of that tradition back.

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Last year’s participants. (Credit: Courtesy Candace Hall)
(Credit: Courtesy Candace Hall)
(Credit: Courtesy Candace Hall)

“I can’t speak highly enough of our community,” Ms. Hall said. “I’m super proud of what we’ve done with small donations. The numbers, in my opinion, prove that we have support from our community, and I’m so grateful for it.”

Ms. Hall’s group, NoFo Kid Connect, which received nonprofit status in 2024, operates on the donations it gets from the community, which helps pay for the cost of the tournament each year, which ranges from $2,500 to $3,500. People can donate online to help pay for future events, too.

The tournament welcomes players ages 4 to 18 for a full day of competition, with games running from noon to 6 p.m. Teams face off in brightly colored T-shirts, while volunteers grill burgers and hot dogs, a DJ keeps the energy high, and the North Fork Academy of Dance delivers a crowd-pleasing halftime performance.

Online registration is closed, but parents can also register their children the day of the tournament.

“I’m so grateful that we have support from our community because in Greenport, we’re a tight-knit group out here,” Ms. Hall said. “Greenport is known to show up and show out for each other in times of need and in times of joy. This tournament is a reflection of our amazing community pulling together to make something happen.”

The post Popular Greenport basketball tournament bounces back July 25 appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

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