The national touring 3-om-3 Gus Macker in-the-street basketball tournament will bring its festival atmosphere to Grand Island this year, part of the Gus Macker Tour of 44 tournaments in 13 states in 2015, celebrating its 42nd year. The event will benefit the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Youth Advantage.

Corey McGowan Productions, which brings the Buffalo and Niagara areas events such as the Taste of Niagara, Taste of Grand Island and Concert for a Cure at Canalside, will produce the tournament. McGowan has worked with the Grand Island Town Board through the permit process to make the boulevard available for basketball, secured some sponsorship support and will be seeking more in the coming weeks.

The Grand Island Gus Macker will benefit the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Youth Advantage. McGowan said schools, clubs and other groups will have the opportunity to be involved with the event that will feature in-the-street basketball with a festival atmosphere.

The Grand Island Macker will be part of the Gus Macker Tour of 44 tournaments in 13 states in 2015. Gus Macker basketball is celebrating its 42nd year since brothers Scott and Mitch McNeal started a 3-on-3 tournament with 18 players in the family driveway in Lowell, Mich. Since then over 2.2 million players have been part of about 1,700 Macker tournaments across the country while raising millions for charity.

Macker’s Scott McNeal said working with Steve Brady and benefitting Cradle Beach Camp, working with the Police Athletic League for the Kids Escaping Drugs program and partnering with the City of Buffalo were key elements in this Macker being one of the most popular in the country.

“We provide the baskets, the equipment and give advice on structure and organization, but all across the country it works because the people in communities like this make it happen and do it to help others,” McNeal said. “Those things are in place again with Corey McGowan Productions, the town of Grand Island, the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Youth Advantage. It will be a challenge to put it together quickly. Other tournaments on our schedule have been planning since late last summer. The great thing about this area is that it knows the value of great community events.”