2024 Las Vegas 35+ National Tournament Preview
The final Ultimate Hoops National Tournament of 2024 wraps up this weekend in Las Vegas.
We will be crowning a new champion for the 35+ National Tournament for the first time in history as defending champion Ball So Hard shockingly dropped out a few days ago.
It’s been a very memorable and competitive year at the National Tournaments this year and this last one is shaping up to be another memorable one. Who will take home the final crown for 2024?
35+ National Tournament Odds:
1. CTE (MD): +200
CTE advanced to both championship games in Vegas and New York this year and lost in both of them. Do you think they are going to be a little fired up to bring this one home?! Yeah probably just a little bit. It's going to be a long winter for CTE if they finish short again. Something tells me they are due for one or we may have to start calling them the Buffalo Bills of Ultimate Hoops.
2. Flight (NV): +300
Flight has arguably the most talented roster in the tournament. But for them it’s always been a chemistry issue and lack of effort in my opinion. Talent has never been the problem for Flight but sometimes stacking the best athletes together just doesn’t work. Former NBA guard Jordan Farmar returns to the line up to form one of the deadliest backcourt duos alongside Jeremy Pargo. Like I said on paper they look amazing but will they finally be able to put it all together? If there ever was a tournament for a Vegas team to bring home the title this is probably it.
3. Livin the Dream (NV): +400
GM Chris Mitchell is really livin the dream with this roster full of Hall of Famers. Flight may have the flashier names in Vegas but this team will probably have the better chemistry and ball movement in my opinion. I see a lot of high IQ and experienced basketball players on the roster and I would not be surprised one bit if this team brings home the first National Title for Vegas and puts Michael Carboni on a first class ticket to the Hall of Fame. And who on earth is going to stop Zach Andrews in this tournament?!
4. Baseline (TX): +500
My guy Marcus Hall is a certified bucket and may just average 40+ in this tournament now that he’s playing guys in the same age bracket. They also just added former NBA Vet Mike James to the backcourt. Coach Bobby Rouse has put together a very deep and balanced team for another strong title run. I am low key pulling for them to win mainly because I know my guy Bobby will be going ham at all the afterparties if they win and I’m always down for a good time with my Houston boys.
5. Hidden Empire (CA): +800
Point God and former Oregon star point guard Darius Wright will be making his National Tournament debut. It’s a shame his former college teammate Alex Scales will not be making the trip with BSH this year as it would have been fun to see the former teammates go at it. My guys Herman Johnson and Jose Zaragoza will literally tell me it’s their year at every single tournament and I see no reason why they won’t tell me that again this time around now they have their savior Darius in uniform for this one.
6. Impact (CO): +1000
I really wanted to put them at #5 but the lack of size and depth on the roster has me a little worried when other teams are coming 10 deep in an old man’s tournament. But if there is a team that is the definition of team chemistry and consistency it’s Team Impact as they have been playing for nearly a decade together. You can never count teams like that out. Beau Barney always has his teams in contention on Sunday.
7. Vegas Heat (NV): +1500
I didn’t want to be a homer and pick my AZ boys Private Lessons here so I will go with the Vegas Heat since they have the home court advantage. I am not surprised every team from Vegas is 10 deep and that will be a huge advantage come Sunday when each team will need to win a minimum of 3 games for the chip. GM Jeff Leider is a high energy guard and I think this team will go as far as he can take them.
8. Private Lessons (AZ): +1600
The dynamic duo of Juice Hedrick and Phil Johnson is back. Can they bring the glory days of those previous Private Lessons championship runs back? It will definitely be a challenge as they were a last minute add in since DMV was not able to make the trip.
9. Last of Us (CO): +3000
The team roster right now looks almost as sad as the team name with only 5 players committed as of today. Did Colorado Springs become a ghost town? Shout out to team captain Shawn Miller for rallying the last of the Mohicans in Colorado for another run at Nationals. But the glory days of the Decision looks long gone.
10. Wheel Chair Mafia (AZ): +10,000
I don’t care what anyone says but I think I just created the best free agent team name in the history of Ultimate Hoops National Tournaments. The roster on the other hand well ….
Good luck to all the teams competing in our final tournament of the year! Looking forward to another fun tournament to close out the year.
Our friends at Tao Group Hospitality will be hosting us at every club in Vegas this weekend for all the tournament after parties! Free VIP entry for all players and friends. All you have to do is show the flyer on our Ultimate Hoops Instagram page at the door for free VIP entry. All clubs listed on the flyer will be available for free entry.