SAN FRANCISCO—Hundreds of basketball players participated in SF Mayor Edwin M. Lee’s second annual 3-on-3 Youth Hoops Tournament at the University of San Francisco.
According to a press release from the Mayor’s Office, youth athletes between the ages of 8 to 17 competed in the tournament that transpired over two weekends and featured players from across San Francisco. The goal of the competition was to encourage youths to develop friendships on and off the court and learn about the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.
“We want to make sure our young residents have safe, healthy activities to engage in this summer, and basketball provides them with the perfect outlet to do so,” said Mayor Lee. “These youths are not only out exercising and competing, they are meeting friends from communities across San Francisco and learning more about what this city has to offer.”
The first round of the competition occurred on July 8 and included more than 1,000 girls and boys squaring off in 13 different neighborhood gyms managed by the Recreation and Park Department.
“We are thrilled to support Mayor’s 3-on-3 tournament,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “We work every day to create safe, clean, fun ways for everyone to play so we love seeing the energy and excitement of this tournament.”
Around 200 participants from the opening weekend’s squads moved on to the final round of competition that took part on July 15 at USF.
“The University of San Francisco is proud to support our Mayor Ed Lee and the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Staff as they provide a great day of community fellowship through this exciting citywide 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament,” said Frank Allocco, Senior Associate Director for External Relations at USF. “We extend our best wishes and congratulations to all of the participants in this outstanding event.”
“Due to its success and popularity, the Mayor’s 3-on-3 is now a staple and a go-to event for our youth,” said Nate Ford, Director of Citywide Athletics at the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco. “Being involved with the past two years of scheduling gives me joy that I’m a part of something for every kid in the city.”
Participants vied for competition prizes, enjoyed food and drinks, and took part in a resource fair hosted by various city agencies and project sponsors on Saturday. The Golden State Warriors supported the event, lending their hype man, Franco Finn, to encourage the aspiring basketball players.
“The Warriors are committed to taking an active interest in the well-being of our community and we are honored to partner with Mayor Lee for his annual 3-on-3 tournament in San Francisco for our local youth,” said Warriors Vice President of Public Affairs and Event Management Gail Hunter. “The game of basketball not only provides youth with an opportunity to be physically active and live a healthy lifestyle, but also teaches them the fundamentals of sportsmanship and teamwork.”
Mayor Lee, earlier this year hosted his annual Youth Jobs + initiative, which challenges employers of both large and small companies to create jobs, internships and paid job training for San Francisco residents. This year’s event offered more than 6,100 pledged jobs for youths, and during its 6 years of existence, more than 35,000 young people have been connected with employers.
“The Mayor’s 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament, the Youth Jobs+ initiative, and the after school and summer programs funded by our department that help keep children and youth safe, learning, and healthy prove San Francisco’s strong commitment to the children, youth, and families in our City,” said Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families Director Maria Su. “Working collaboratively with other City departments, USF, the Warriors, and the community to host events like the Mayor’s 3-on-3 Tournament exemplify the City and the community’s shared dedication to making San Francisco a great place to grow up.”
