By Gary Lloyd
BIRMINGHAM — Ball Up is giving local basketball players throughout the Birmingham area a chance to go pro during the 2014 Ball Up Summer Tour.
Players are invited to bring out their best skills as they compete for a contract worth $100,000 and a spot on the Ball Up All-Star roster, awarded at the conclusion of the tour. While cheering on the local basketball players as they go head to head against the Ball Up All-Stars at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at Lawson State Community College, families can take in the excitement including guest NBA all-star coaches, musical entertainment and special guest appearances. The Arthur Shore Fine Arts Building at Lawson State is located at 3060 Wilson Road S.W. in Birmingham.
A scene from the Ball Up Street Tour
photo courtesy of Ball Up Street Tour
Local untapped streetball talent throughout the Birmingham area can take their shot and come to Elyton Park at 97 Princeton Ave. S.W. in Birmingham at 11 a.m. Saturday to participate in the open run tryouts for the opportunity to compete against the best in streetball. Ten players will be selected to represent Birmingham in a competition against the Ball Up team in a display of talent and skill. The Ball Up All-Stars have yet to lose in the four-year history of the summer tour. Throughout the tour, two MVPs from each city will be invited to participate in a two-day combine camp in which 10 finalists will be selected to play against the Ball Up All-Stars in a championship game in Las Vegas. At the end of the championship game one MVP will win a multi-year contract and become a Ball Up All-Star.
“This year, we anticipate some of the toughest competition that Ball Up has faced, especially with a stop in Birmingham,” said Demetrius Spencer, CEO of Ball Up. “The level of skill and talent we find each year grows exponentially and we always look forward to discovering new talent on the court.”
NBA players that have participated in previous Ball Up events include Derek Fisher, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, Dennis Rodman, Tracy McGrady, Matt Barnes, Rick Fox, DeMar Derozan, Rafer “Skip To My Lou” Alston and Eric Bledsoe.
To pre-register for the open run tryouts or for more information, visit www.BallUp.com.
In other area basketball news, a Nike Pre Draft Camp will be held at Huffman High School on Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for girls and boys in the sixth through 12th grades. The cost is $99.
For more information about the camp, visit www.nikepredraftcamp.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
