Hooplandia, presented by Eastern States Exposition (ESE), returned to West Springfield, Mass., June 19-21. On Sunday afternoon, the final day of the festival, teams played it out in a championship tournament, including the FIBA-sanctioned Pro-Am division, powered by 3x360 Sports, for professional ballers. In a highly anticipated faceoff, team Hoop Forever of Brooklyn, N.Y., defended their championship title against an unprecedented 13 other big-league teams.

Hooplandia 2026 attracted thousands of players and fans from an international audience, transforming the grounds at Eastern States Exposition into a stirring celebration of basketball. The Pro-am division, with new merit from its FIBA 3x3 certification, 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 Pro-Am champions.

In total, 13 teams competed in the division: Hartford Colts, ABA Colts, 1FAM, Big Dog Elite, Bloodline, Team H.E., 3Da Hard Way, Clean Air, Cornucopia, Freedom, The Works, Victory Lap, and Hoop Forever, the division’s reigning champions. These teams brought top-tier talent, physical play and serious, show-stopping skills to the Pro-Am court.

Participants traveled far and wide to take part in this division. Cullen Donovan, who helped start the Bloodline Basketball brand, was among those that traveled the farthest distance. He has relocated from Connecticut to Los Angeles, Cali., in recent years. However, when Bloodline owner Robert “Bobby” Lamoureux of Glastonbury, Conn., owner of Bloodline Basketball LLC, informed him that Bloodline would be entering a team into Hooplandia this year, Donovan accepted the call with zeal and booked his flight back to the Northeast.

“I flew back for the tournament here, but I live in L.A. and I’m a basketball trainer there,” Donovan shared. “I’m also a head of basketball programming for a high school out that way. I’m a basketball fanatic. I just love hoops. When Bobby said that [Hooplandia] had 13 teams in this division, I could see the growth from the start to now—I thought that was amazing. A tournament, a festival like this is phenomenal to see.”

First-time Hooplandia participant Tamar Williams of New Haven, Conn., is a semi-professional player with the American Basketball Association (ABA) Colts of Hartford, Conn. He played basketball in college in Rhode Island, became a trainer himself and now plays through the men’s league to continue doing what he loves. However, Hooplandia was the first time that he has played 3x3 street ball.

“It’s a different brand of basketball,” he marveled, gesturing to the nonstop gameplay happening on the Pro-Am court behind him. “The key is obviously to put the ball in the hoop, but the pace of the game, the constant adjustments, not being able to talk to each other, the 12-second shot clock, the rapid nature, no isolation breakdown—just pass, cut, take it out of the net, take it to the 3-point line—it’s a real fast pace. You must anticipate the next place to be able to compete.”

When asked how he enjoyed Hooplandia, Williams said, “It’s a 12 out of 10 experience. I’ll be right back next year.”

Jack Appleby, known for his TikTok and Instagram presence, @HowtoHoopForever, assembled a team of passionate players from across the United States, determined to defend the Pro-Am division title and show children and adults alike that there is no dousing a dream on fire.

Team Captain Appleby’s newest additions to team Hoop Forever included Ryan Tana, Jack Shannon and NCAA Division I March Madness legend Doug Edert, formerly of the Saint Peter’s Peacocks of Jersey City, N.J.

“Last year, we came out here and won the Pro-Am. Now, our team name is in the Hall of Fame,” said Appleby before the championship games ensued. “I’ve taken the team fully international; we’ve played in Brazil, Thailand, Germany and we have plans for Italy and Japan now. We are a full FIBA-level team. This is the one-year anniversary of that for us. I have a day job, and I have a job besides basketball. I am supposed to be in France for that job right now, and I decided, ‘No, we’re coming back to Hooplandia.’”

With high stakes on the line, the Pro-Am championship game did not disappoint. After a weekend of fierce rivalry, Hoop Forever, in front of an eager crowd glued to the courtside, wound up defending their win with a score of 21-17 over 3Da Hard Way.

Hooplandia has always been about more than just basketball. It’s a celebration of the culture the sport has created, the sense of community rallied around it and connections that it makes possible. The rapid growth of the Pro-Am division sets the stage for an even bigger and better Hooplandia in years to come, with stiffer competition than ever before. Organizers have already received interest from regional and national talent eager to join next year’s Pro-Am bracket, so we hope to see you there.