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$1 Million The Basketball Tourney at DePaul Gym This Weekend

By Paul Biasco | July 24, 2015 1:32pm
 The Hoopville Warriors advanced to the final 17 in The Basketball Tournament.
The Hoopville Warriors advanced to the final 17 in The Basketball Tournament.
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The Basketball Tournament

LINCOLN PARK — $1 million is on the line and some of the country's top basketball players are in town for a chance at the prize.

The Basketball Tournament is a single-elimination, five-on-five version of the US Open packed with former NBA players, recently graduated college players and blacktop stars.

The tournament is in the quarterfinals this weekend, with regional play taking place in DePaul University's McGrath-Phillips Arena, 2323 North Sheffield Ave.

The "Super 17" takes place Friday and Saturday at DePaul and will feature the defending champion Notre Dame Fighting Alumni.

There are eight games Friday night and four on Saturday to determine who will advance to the semifinals in New York City.

This is the second year of The Basketball Tournament.

A team that included Jason Williams and Mike Bibby lost in the western region qualifying rounds last week and the 97-team field includes 125 players who have played in the NBA or NBA D-League.

More than 500 players in the tournament have professional experience.

Chicago's hometown team The Hoopville Warriors are led by 39-year-old Britt Booker and are packed with local talent.

Booker put the team together consisting of childhood friends.

"It's a group of guys from poverty stricken neighborhoods, some have gone out to college, have gotten right there but didn't get their contract from the NBA," Booker said. "They want to show the world. I know these guys know deep in their heart they belong."

ESPN produced a segment on the Hoopville Warriors and their quest for redemption in the tournament.

Booker, who played for Colorado State, is joined by a number of former college stars.

Other team members include Rico Hill who was drafted by the L.A. Clippers

As of Thursday there were 17 teams remaining in the tournament.

"Hands down, outside of the NBA, it's the best basketball in the country," Booker said. "The skill level is extremely high."

Tickets for Friday's games are $20 for an all day pass for a full schedule of eight games that start at 9 a.m. and run until 11 p.m.

Saturday's round of 8 tickets are also $20 for an all day pass. Games start at 3 p.m. 

The $1 million championship game will be broadcast on ESPN Aug. 2.

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