Hooplandia, hosted by Eastern States Exposition and the Basketball Hall of Fame, took its game to the next level by adding a Pro-Am Division, powered by Kevin Garnett’s Hoop It Up and presented by Explore Western Mass, a major milestone in the evolution of the 3x3 basketball tournament.
Hooplandia 2025 drew thousands of players and fans from across the region, transforming the grounds into a stirring celebration of basketball. The newly introduced Pro-Am Division brought a charged and competitive level of play to the tournament and featured elite talent, including former college stars and semi-pros, all competing to take home $2,500 and the chance to be crowned Hooplandia’s first-ever Pro-Am champions.
Six teams competed in this latest division: Big Dog Elite, BLOODLINE FIBA, Hoop Forever, M Dot Marauders 3ball, Reloaded and Venmo Vultures. These teams brought serious talent, physical play and show-stopping moments to the court, helping to set the tone for the Pro-Am Division, which will continue to grow. Each team played with purpose and pride, representing their regions and raising the overall caliber of the event.
Terrance Thorpe of the M Dot Marauders 3ball from Boston, Mass., said of the event and the new Pro-Am Division, “It’s such a great experience and a fun tournament to kick off the summer.” The Eastern Mass. native continued, “Boston doesn’t have this type of thing, so it’s nice to see a Pro-Am event in our state.”
Thorpe’s team was not the only group that traveled far and wide for the festival; Jack Appleby, known for his TikTok and Instagram presence, @HowtoHoopForever, assembled a team of passionate players from Brooklyn, N.Y. Hoop Forever arrived determined to win the Pro-Am Division and show children and adults alike that there is no dousing a dream on fire.
With high stakes on the line, the Pro-Am championship game did not disappoint. After a weekend of fierce rivalry, Hoop Forever emerged victorious over BLOODLINE FIBA 15-12, in front of a packed crowd, taking home the inaugural Pro-Am title and cash prize and making history as the first champions in the division.
“Any festival environment where there’s people of all ages and it’s a family event?” said Appleby. “That’s the best kind of weekend…Offering a Pro-Am level while you’re surrounded by kids who are excited to be here is the best of all worlds for everyone… Hooplandia and events like this are more fun because everyone is welcome.”
Travis Warech, player with BLOODLINE FIBA and lead trainer with Bloodline Basketball, boasts an 11-year professional basketball career overseas in Germany and Israel. After an intense final face-off, Warech said of Hooplandia, “The facility is amazing. It’s very well put together…This has the potential for a lot of pros to come and compete at a high level…It was also a safe space for me to bring my kid, which was tremendous for me. He had never seen me play before.”
Hooplandia has always been about more than just basketball. It’s a celebration of the culture, community and connection that the game generates. This year’s event once again united players of all ages, from kids playing their first tournament to the talent within the Pro-Am division. The tournament cemented itself as a proving ground for serious talent.
The success of the new division sets the stage for an even bigger and better Hooplandia in 2026. Organizers have already received interest from regional and national talent eager to join next year’s Pro-Am bracket, with Thorpe saying, “We will absolutely be coming back next year.”