Major Summer Basketball League Starts Play In West Hartford Saturday

WEST HARTFORD, CT — If Connecticut is the "Basketball Capital of the World," then West Hartford this summer can lay claim to being the "Basketball Capital of the Basketball Capital."

With University of Connecticut basketball Coach Dan Hurley announcing he's staying in Storrs to go for a third straight national title (after being wooed by the Lakers), what better way to get your hoops fix than by going to West Hartford this weekend and throughout the summer?

The newly renamed "Basketball Capital Pro-Am" league starts play this Saturday, June 15, at St. Joseph University in West Hartford, 1678 Asylum Ave., West Hartford.

With Hartford Healthcare as the lead sponsor, along with several other greater Hartford businesses and organizations, the games are not only entertaining — they are free to attend.

It features teams of locally based amateur and professional players from leagues the world over playing on sponsored teams named for area businesses and organizations.

Games take place at USJ's Jim Calhoun Gymnasium, with tripleheaders slated on Saturday, June 15, and subsequent Sundays in June and July (starting June 23).

Twice-a-week doubleheaders are slated on Mondays and Wednesdays starting at 6 p.m., providing folks a place to relax and take in a game or games at night.

Play-in games for the postseason championship tournament take place Wednesday, July 31, with quarterfinals slated for Thursday/Friday, Aug. 1/2, and semifinals set for Sunday, Aug. 4.

Once all that is done, the league championship series featuring the semifinal winners takes place in a best-of-three contest that starts Monday, Aug. 5, and continues to Wednesday, Aug. 7, and Friday, Aug. 9 (if necessary).

This summer will mark the 26th anniversary of the league, which was renamed this year in homage to the state's hoops legacy, specifically, at UConn, where 17 men's and women's national titles have been won since 1995.

The tournament previously took place in Hartford, but it was shuttered for a few years due to financial issues and the pandemic.

It was successfully resurrected a year ago at USJ and this season — with Connecticut's hoops legacy further cemented following another championship — is seen as especially noteworthy.

Coaching legend Jim Calhoun has thrown his name behind the league and the USJ gym is actually named for him. It is affectionally known as "The Jim."

Calhoun coached at Northeastern University and UConn, where he won three national titles; and he came out of retirement to become USJ's first-ever men's basketball coach.

He is enshrined in the Naismith National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., and he was on hand last month for a kick-off event at the gym bearing his name.

While basketball is the main attraction at the games, they will also feature information booths in line with Hartford Healthcare's sponsorship of the league.

For example, one key feature is a new CPR simulator that will be available for guests to use to learn the life-saving technique.

"This year, Hartford HealthCare will debut a unique, new player courtside at the Basketball Capital Pro-Am - the American Heart Association’s (AHA) or 'Mobile Hands-Only CPR Kiosk,'" wrote USJ in a release.

"Hartford HealthCare is the first in Connecticut, New England, and one of only eight in the country to feature the new Mobile Hands-Only CPR Kiosk."

It is hoped the kiosk will increase awareness and access to this life-saving training tool in the community.

In addition to the league, the pro-am will also include a series of special skills clinics at various public parks throughout the City of Hartford. The clinics are sponsored by Eversource Energy.

For more information, for the full league schedule, and the hoops skill clinic slate, click on this link.

From Feb. 29: 'CT Hoops Havens: State College Basketball More Than Just UConn'