The annual Crew Love basketball tournament in Harambee Park at Franklin Field takes place this weekend with help from Jaylen Brown’s 741 Performance company.
Organized by Mathmatik Clothing and Broz4Lyfe, the competition features 10 men’s teams playing over two days, with single-round elimination games and the championship game on Sunday. The Mathmatik, Broz4Lyfe, and returning champs Members Only team (the latter with last year’s MVP Keon Jones, of Dorchester) are already confirmed.
The weekend will also feature neighborhood rivalry games, the women’s all-star game, and a new 12-and-under tourney on Friday, with a championship Saturday, 2 p.m.
Graphic courtesy Crew Love/Broz4Lyfe
Organizer Jay Branch said the rivalry games on Saturday, and the women’s all-star game (3 p.m. Saturday), sponsored by Holo Footwear, will be memorable.
The third annual Hyde Park vs. Mattapan rivalry game (4 p.m. Saturday) is expected to set the tone for the Roxbury vs. Dorchester “Game Seven” braggin’ rights rivalry (5 p.m. Saturday). Both teams are 3-3 in the series, and no one wants to lose.
“It’s going to be a great one – everyone loves a Game Seven – and the trash talking has already started,” said Branch.
“We want to focus on the youth this time; the women expanded first and now we’re going to do this [youth tournament] for the kids – spotlight our young people,” he said.
The partnership with Brown’s company expands his involvement, as the Celtic star attended once before and this year will return as a sponsor.
Branch said all the youth players will be outfitted with Brown’s sneakers.
“He reached out to us and it’s a good opportunity. We’re really looking to shine the light on the younger people and also the people who have been here from the start. It’s going to be a good, peaceful weekend of basketball,” he said.
