The 2024 Tournament season has arrived. We have stories on stories this year.

The glory days of playing for your home state and team are over. The Ultimate Hoops National Tournament has become the new NBA. Kevin Durant would be jealous right now with all the team switching going on.

Ball So Hard became so stacked they now have former players joining other rival teams. Teams are stacking their squads with younger rosters and new tournament legends will be born in 2024.

National Tournament Director Donald Dangmuk breaks down every team and gives each team their odds of winning the National Title in 2024.

1.        Ball So Hard (AZ): -500

If there was ever a year to beat Ball So Hard, this would probably be it? They will be without 2023 tournament MVP Alex Scales and Darrin Dorsey is also a TBD. It will be really interesting to see how this super stacked backcourt of Mike Bibby Jr and Justin Denton work with only one basketball?  Yes I said Mike Bibby JR, the future of BSH has arrived folks.

 

2.        Flight (NV): +300

The most interesting storyline of the tournament has to be Travis Gabbidon leaving Ball So Hard to join Flight. Guess who we will be getting the 1st interview from Flight?  We need some questions answered Travis. The addition of high flyer Josh McCarver will have this team in contention on Sunday.

 

3.        Nor Cal Buckets (CA): +500

On paper this looks like the best team to come out of Nor Cal in some time. Keenan Prince and Kent Bazemore can fill it up but the addition of star center Zach Andrews might just be what they need to get this to the finish line. Maybe Zach and Travis are trying to see who can get more National titles with different teams?

 

4.        CTE (MD): +800

I’m a sucker for reunions so couldn’t help but smile when I saw Brensley Haywood teaming up with my man Kenny Zeigler again. Kenny has 17 teams signed up at Columbia this season so excited to see what’s in store for this youth movement Kenny keeps telling me about.

 

5.        Baseline (TX): +850

I could have easily put Baseline in the top 4 but drawing BSH in the same pool tends to make that rather difficult. GM Bobby Rouse went out of state to recruit Fred Dudley and Delonn Stevenson from Arizona which I think is pure genius. Why not recruit the guys that actually beat Ball So Hard? Duh. The toughness and experience they bring might just be what they need to finally complete the mission.

 

6.        PTB (TX): +1000

This pick makes me nervous. Are we going to get the team that went 0-3 in Vegas or the Final 4 team in NYC? I’m going with the latter as GM masterminds Dan Gilbert and Jarred Costart has had almost a year to rebuild this team for another run.

 

7.        Impact (CO): +1500

Will the new addition of new backcourt studs Sam Boone and Fitz Wreh make an “Impact” ? See what I did there? hehe. I sure hope so as both these guards combine for an average of over 60 points in their respective leagues. Either these guys are playing against 4th graders at Westminster or these guys can really go. Regardless I’m intrigued.

 

8.        Centex (TX): +2000

I think these guys sneak into Sunday because they are in arguably the weakest pool of the tournament. San Antonio has had a history of sending strong quality teams to the tournament so my gut tells me they advance. Would they be in my top 8 if not for the division? Probably not.

 

9.        The North (AZ): +2050

I’m from Arizona so of course I would have all three Arizona teams in my top 10 duh. I think the North boys will be in a dogfight with Impact to advance to Sunday. But if I had them over Impact my bias would be so obvious. I been waiting 3 years for a Tanner Waldrip breakout at the National Tournament. My man Chris Walker has hyped him up like he’s the 2nd coming of Jesus so maybe this is the year?

 

10.  The Fellas (AZ): +2200

This is the part where I start throwing team names on the dart board because I have no idea who half these players are anymore. This is the team with the father and son duo so of course I am going to cheer them on. I’m all about the feel-good stories and a father son duo going for the National Title together is a feel good story.

 

11.  Hot To Trot (CA): +2300

Keenan Allen better show up just so I can ask him to name me 30 NFL players that can play in the NBA because we all know he can’t. They were picked 1st in the pool draft over a Free Agent team? The DISRESPECT wow. If that doesn’t motivate them to go kill every team in this tournament I’m not sure what will.

 

12.  Hidden Empire (CA): +2500

Did you know Deon Taylor directed Meet the Blacks?  I was hoping to see Mike Epps on a roster by now but unfortunately, we’ll have to settle for the Herman Johnson show again haha. My worst nightmare of running a basketball tournament is someone shattering the backboard. That nightmare just became one step closer to reality with Herman is bringing back John Pinchon to the tournament.

 

13.  Da Guys (MO): +2700

The loss of Jordan Anderson in the backcourt is going to hurt. The team lacks depth already and unfortunately with no league in place in Missouri it’s going to be tough to add new talent. I still think they have a shot to advance to Sunday because they have arguably the easiest pool in the tournament.  Maybe the addition of Courtney Williams will get them to the promise land? Yeah probably not.

 

14.  TWTDS (NY): +3000

My NYC boys have yet to get a dub on the National stage so Team Captain Matt Thomas literally held tryouts to find new players for the squad. I really enjoyed watching Matt’s “Road to Vegas” series on Youtube but unless Jalen Brunson showed up at these tryouts it might be another sad ending for my boys. Regardless excited to see the “Corporate Hooper” Will Custis make his Vegas debut and reunite with my NYC boys this weekend. What’s the over/under on coach Zak Mohamed having another meltdown this year though? Haha

 

15.  R&D Ballers (NC): +3200

This is what I know. They have the lowest payroll out of the teams on UHLife.com but after working for Ultimate Hoops for nearly 10 years, I still don’t know what exactly even goes into that payroll? I see some of these guys have college experience and they typically win the Raleigh leagues back home so I assume they can’t be as bad as what that payroll states? Regardless it’s dope to have another team from the east coast in the tournament and I hope you guys prove me wrong. Getting 9 guys to fly all the way down to Vegas for a tournament is a win in itself so thank you Eric Wright.

 

16.  Rude Dogs (NV): +3500

Hall of Famer and Ultimate Hoops all time leading scorer McKinsey Golfin makes his return to Vegas. This team was a last minute add as our ATL team was not able to make the trip unfortunately. It will consist mainly of free agents from Vegas and Chris Ramsay joining all the way from New York. They are going to be either really bad or really good pending which players Vegas God Father Dan Orozco puts on the team.

Again thank you to all the teams for coming down for the tournament. Looking forward to another fun tournament this weekend! - Donald

Schedule of Events:

Friday Night Red Carpet Welcome Party at the Life Time Green Valley Pool Deck from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Free appetizers and drinks for all players and friends! You can pick up your tournament jerseys and shirts at this event.

Saturday Night Tournament After Party at Hakkasan Nightclub. Free VIP entrance for all players and family before 1:00am. Please present the flyer posted on the Ultimate Hoops Instagram Page at the door.

Sunda Night Tournament After party at Marquee Nightclub. Free VIP entrance for all players and friends before 1:00am. Please present the flyer posted on the Ultimate Hoops Instagram Page at the door.

Our Tournament sponsor Legends Apparel will be on site all weekend. Check out their pop up store and save 25% on everything!