Big Time hoops tourney celebrating its 10th year

Advance team registration has started online for the nation's largest and most prestigious boys prep summer basketball tournament, the 10th annual Reebok Big Time tournament.

With a new title sponsor, the event is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas July 22-26, with 400 teams from around the United States and several other countries expected to compete.

Through the tournament's official Web site, reebokbigtime.com, registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Growing from 64 teams when the tournament was founded by basketball marketing guru Sonny Vaccaro in 1995 to 400 this year, the tournament fills all the available spots several months in advance of the event, with the rest of the squads placed on a waiting list.

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Big Time tournament. I'm both pleased and proud to be saying that, because when it was first conceived a decade ago, I had no idea it would grow to become the world's largest summer basketball tournament experience," Vaccaro said. "Sure, we named it 'Big Time,' but it was only a hope that someday it would live up to that lofty name. How could we have known that it would grow to 400 teams and over 5,000 kids, receive the tremendous media coverage it gets and attract coaches from every major program in the country."

At this year's event, champions will be crowned in five different divisions -- Open, A, B, C and a new High School category.

Green Valley High School in Henderson will serve as headquarters for the event, which will be played on 30 courts at 15 high schools in Southern Nevada.

"With the new involvement of Reebok, the Reebok Big Time tournament is going to get even more dynamic, more exciting and more competitive than ever before," said Larry McKay, who has directed the tournament, with Green Valley boys head coach Jim Allen, since its inception.

"Jim and I have been honored for these nine years to help make Sonny's dream a reality. Exposure is a key element of what (the event) is all about and scholarships to schools of all sizes have been awarded to hundreds of the more than 27,000 youngsters who have shown their talent, enthusiasm, determination and creativity at this event."

A record 43 states were represented at last year's tournament, along with a record 511 registered college coaches and 24 NBA coaches or scouts, and 222 media credentials were issued.

Previous Open Division champions in the Big Time were the Atlanta Celtics last year and the New York Ravens in 2002. Those interested in the event can call 373-7007 or visit reebokbigtime.com.


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