Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament attracts over 125 teams

It’s no secret that basketball is one of the most popular sports in Tompkins County. That was on full display August 5 & 6 with the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament’s return to Ithaca.

The tournament’s third edition in the city, which took place on a picturesque weekend at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), was greater than ever in all aspects. The level of participation was at its highest ever, with 127 teams taking part. It came as a welcome surprise for GIAC Recreation & Team Coordinator Rahmel Mack.

“I was talking crazy when I said 130 teams, so to land at 127 and not have to look crazy, it feels good,” Mack said. “The visual of 127 different basketball teams—which is like 500 players—playing basketball at GIAC is mind-blowing to me. Everything’s about evolution, so we’re getting better every year.”

More teams and players meant that there had to be more room to fit in all the action. An additional street near GIAC was shut down to put in more courts. The courts were also more regionalized based on age. The teen courts were towards the back of GIAC to give more of an arena-feel, the younger kids played towards the front, and the adults were located in the parking lot.

“[There was] a lot of change to help the athletes at the level they are [at] compete how they want to compete, to put on the proper show for the people watching and the community watching, and just really go hard,” Mack said.

Many of the spectators are used to seeing full court, five-a-side basketball, especially at the high school and college level. But with the typical court cut in half and the number of players reduced, it led to a very entertaining product.

“3-on-3 eliminates the fast break,” Mack said. “Half court means high intensity for long periods of time. Just think of a lot of iso, a lot of cutting, and a lot of showboating because it’s on half court and it gets shifty. It’s more of what you wait to see: that head-on matchup, that man-to-man with this star and that star. It’s constantly head-on.”

Mack has been with GIAC since 2009, so he’s had his fair share of kids who he’s worked with over the years. Being able to see so many of them show their talents out on the court is something that Mack can be proud of.

“It’s awesome for me,” Mack said. “To pass down the fun of basketball is what makes so many of the kids that I’ve trained and that I’ve taught become so good because they enjoy it. It’s not work. Once things become work, it makes things a little harder. Passing all that stuff down and seeing some of the top players in our city have come through my camp or come through GIAC is a fulfilling thing. It’s one of the biggest rewards of my job.”

Mack has not only helped the Gus Macker Tournament grow in Ithaca, as he’s also brought more awareness to GIAC in the process.

“Being a part of GIAC’s evolution is always the joy of my job,” Mack said. “I take a lot of pride in the center. I take a lot of pride in bringing positive exposure to the center, and it’s only going to get better. We’ve proven every time we do something, it elevates [GIAC]. Evolution is what I’m passionate about.”

The tournament showcased the outstanding basketball abilities flourishing in Ithaca, something that was underestimated early on by those coming from outside the area.

“People don’t realize how good our basketball players are,” Mack said. “I remember the first year and the second year, a lot of out-of-town kids who were on the Gus Macker tour looked at Ithaca as the easy start to win their gold trophy. And then they get here and they don’t win, so it’s a good spotlight for them to get their shine and for us as a community center to get our shine for the work we do and the presentations that we put on.”

There were plenty of familiar names in the Section IV basketball scene who took part. The most successful of the bunch was Ithaca’s Luke Little and Newfield’s Jalen Hardison, who won the Court J bracket as part of Immortal EK. In the final, they came out on top 15-10 over The Fantastic Four, another team filled with local talent, namely a trio of recent graduates from Ithaca High School: Will Holmes, Jonathan Ostrom, and Justin Yearwood.

Other notable names from the Section IV scene included Hezekiah McCoy (Newfield), Jordan Sidle (Lansing), Tatyanna George (Ithaca),Madelyn and Mia Little (Ithaca), and countless others.

If this year’s tournament is anything to go by, there will certainly be even more players and spectators of all ages joining in on the fun for years to come.