196 teams to compete in 2024 NABI

By Melanie Cissone
Special to the Times

PHOENIX – The popular and well attended Native American Basketball Invitational, now in its 21st year, is expanding its nationwide reach in tribal communities by endorsing “local” all-Native tournaments.

Approximately 24% of the record-breaking 196 teams registered for this summer’s NABI tournament are Navajo. The remaining all-Native or Indigenous registrants are teams affiliated with tribes across the country and some come from as far away as New Zealand.

Arriving to the blazing hot weather of Phoenix in summer for a chance to play a championship game at Footprint Center, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, high school players and families descend annually with an enthusiastic eye toward winning.

Along with a chance to play post season, build skills, and capitalize on natural talent, the advantage to the locally based tournaments is that the championship teams already accepted to NABI can expect a 100% reimbursement of paid NABI team fees.

The first in the line-up of spring NABI-endorsed tournaments is the Ak-Chin Indian Community tournament in Maricopa, Arizona the weekend of May 3-5.

Then, in collaboration with Window Rock Unified School District 8, the Magic Classic is scheduled for May 31 to June 2. Native American high school boys and girls were encouraged to register their teams before the May 1st deadline. A $100 deposit secures a spot in the tourney bracket unless the team wants to pony up the full $225 fee. With three games guaranteed, the first 16 girls’ teams and the first 16 boys’ teams with paid entry fees will be accepted. Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place winners and to MVPs. While graduating seniors are eligible, promoting 8th graders are not. A ten-player roster is a must.

Inquiries about the Window Rock’s Magic Classic should be directed at Al Tsedah by calling him at (918) 383-9646 or sending an email to altsedah24@icloud.

Milwaukee Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp is a proud member of the Mission Indians and LaJolla Band of Luiseña Indians. These two tribes will host the MarJon Beauchamp All-Native Tournament on June 28-30 in Seattle, Washington.

This year is the first year that the NABI-endorsed tournaments will be in full swing. Co-founded with former Suns player, Mark West, the NABI president, GinaMarie Scarpa says, “This concept will grow. It’s a win-win for NABI and the endorsed all-Native tournaments.”

Scarpa has hustle. By lending two decades of experience and opening doors to wide-ranging resources for tournaments to expand at a tribal level, she says, “We market each tournament individually and assist organizers with merchandise branding to increase their revenue and improve tournament sustainability.”

The increase in demand for rez ball tournaments is evidenced in the 225 teams that applied for a spot in this year’s NABI, scheduled for July 22-27. Scarpa believes the endorsed tournaments are a way to pay it forward and turn burgeoning interest into real growth at a local level.

In addition to the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Footprint Center, tribal sponsorship comes from the Gila River Indian Community, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe. Educational sponsors include the University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, and the Arizona Science Center.

Corporate support comes from Rolling Plain Construction, Freeport McMoRan, KONE, Urias Communications, Legends Entertainment, Rolling Plain Construction District, Becker Boards, Fry’s Food Stores, with presenting sponsorship from Resolution Copper.

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