Slam Dunk to return in December under new name
Slam Dunk to the Beach will return to Lewes this December as part of four regional basketball events under the umbrella of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Operated by Position Sports, the tournament will merge with the Hoophall brand and be known as Hoophall East.
The original iteration of Slam Dunk ran from 1990 to 2003 at the now-demolished Cape High. The event attracted some of today's top professional basketball players during their high school years, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. The Delaware Sports Commission resurrected the tournament in 2014, running a successful event at the new Cape High every December until the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Slam Dunk rebranding was part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s April 13 announcement of four regional events. All events are expected to be the most premier showcases in their respective areas, the press release said.
The 20th anniversary of the Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay will culminate this series of events over Martin Luther King Day weekend, featuring an elite field of national schools and players.
“Hoophall Classic has evolved into one of the premier high school events of the season, and while the event continues to grow year over year, we realize there’s more talent to be celebrated in other parts of the country, especially where the popularity of high school basketball is extraordinary,” said Greg Procino, vice president of basketball operations for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “With our new regional concept, players from coast to coast will be afforded the opportunity to showcase their skills on the Hoophall stage, while the hall of fame can continue to grow and celebrate the game in new communities.”
Hoophall West, entering its ninth year in Arizona with a history of sold-out crowds, will continue to serve as the hub for West Coast teams and national talent. Games are slated for Dec. 8-11.
As the first new regional stop, Hoophall Central at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., will allow the hall of fame to operate an elite-level event in a community with a rich appreciation for high school hoops. Fans can see local and regional talent take the court Dec. 16-18.
Hoophall East will partner with longtime East Coast tournament Slam Dunk to the Beach. By merging the Slam Dunk history and success with the Hoophall brand, Lewes will see an elevated event Dec. 27-29.
The last of the four regional events will be Hoophall South in Bentonville, Ark. Expanding on this area’s tremendous high school basketball infrastructure of talented players and passionate fans, the hall of fame will take this local showcase to new heights Jan. 6-8, 2022.
This series of Hoophall events will culminate on the Road to Springfield for the 20th annual Hoophall Classic set to take place Jan. 13-17, 2022, at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball. The event has showcased dozens of budding NBA players over the years, including 10 No. 1 NBA Draft picks such as Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zion Williamson and Anthony Edwards.
All hall of fame events will be played in accordance with health and safety regulations set forth by local ordinances at the time of play. For more information, go to hoophall.com/events/hoophall-regional-events.
