Major org's CEO on his dream for the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic
After a successful first year, The Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic is expected to return next year, either as a preseason or regular season event, according to ALSAC president and CEO Rick Shadyac.
The inaugural preseason basketball event showcased the University of Memphis’ men and women’s basketball programs as the latest local event supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The University of North Carolina men’s basketball team and reigning women’s National Champions, the University of South Carolina, completed the four-team event held at FedExForum on Oct. 15. ESPN and ESPN+ broadcasted the event’s two games.
“It went fabulously well and I'm super proud of our city,” Shadyac said in an interview with Memphis Business Journal. “I'm proud of the University of Memphis and of my team that put this together on very short notice. I'm excited about the [event's] future.”
Nearly 9,000 tickets — 8,740 approximately — were sold for this year’s event, with another 1,000 tickets also being donated to schools throughout Memphis to allow youth, who might not otherwise have access, a chance to watch some of college basketball’s best.