3 on 3 tourney to be at Seafood Fest

By Dean Wong

Local players are invited to form teams for the first 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament July 26 and 27, during the same weekend as the Ballard SeafoodFest.

The tournament is presented by Michael Johnson's Hoopaholics organization and the Olympic Athletic Club at St. Alphonsus School.

Johnson, who was a star player at Ballard High School and the University of Washington, said he hopes the tournament could be an annual event that continues to grow.

"This is going to be a fun event. We will get a big turnout from Ballard kids," said Johnson. Players from around the city are expected to enter teams.

"We're pleased to work with Michael (Johnson) to make it a great event," said Beth Williamson Miller, executive director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce. She said the SeafoodFest is trying to attract younger people.

This year the festival will feature a former Harlem Globe Trotter demonstrating his basketball skills. This event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Church.

The 3 on 3 Tournament at St. Alphonsus School will feature five divisions for both boys and girls. The groups are based on grades: third and fourth; fifth and sixth; seventh and eighth; ninth and 10th; 11th and 12th.

Playing with three players instead of the usual five is more difficult.

"Three on three is basically one person passing and the others cutting and always moving. The skill level is examined more. There is no place to hide," said Johnson.

Teams will compete for seeding in a playoff bracket. The top teams will face the lower seeds. Each team has three players and one reserve. A fifth player can be added for a $15 fee.

Players can expect typical summer temperatures that average 85 degrees. There will be eight outdoor courts and hoops mounted on glass backboards. Two courts will be indoors at the St. Alphonsus School gymnasium.

Three on three tournaments have been held at Key Arena and Sand Point in the past, but have been absent in Seattle in recent years.

Johnson said the Ballard tournament could expand to adults in the future, but for now it's for young people.

As the coach of the Whitman Middle School boys, Johnson lead the team to the championship game of the city league last year. He expects some of his players to enter.

The Whitman girls have also had playoff success and are developing talent for the high school level.

"The talent at Whitman s coming up. There is young talent on the teams," said Johnson.

He expects many of the Whitman kids to attend Ballard High and contribute to the boys and girls programs there.

This year, the Ballard Beaver girls made the state 4A playoffs and finished in fourth place. It was the best season in the history of the Beaver girls program.

Since graduating from the University of Washington as the third ranked three-pointer shooter in school history, Johnson has invested his time in basketball camps for Ballard kids each summer.

Johnson's Ballard Girls Summer Camps are July 7 to 9 at Ballard High School and August 25 to 28 at Whitman Middle School.

The boys' camps are July 22 to 25 and August 12 to 15, both are at Ballard High.

The tournament and summer camps are advantages Johnson did not have as a teen in Ballard developing his game.

"I wish I had something like this when I was growing up in Ballard," said Johnson.

Team registration is $90. Visit http://www.hoopaholics.com. Johnson can be reached at 235-5195 or michael23johnson@hoopaholics.com. Other tournament sponsors include Anchor Environmental and Home Realty.

Dean Wong may be reached at 783.1244 or deanw@robinsonnews.com