Little Fundraiser full of top local talent
Twenty-nine teams will clash Saturday morning at the Antonio Little Fundraiser at UW Health Sports Factory.
Play begins at 11 a.m. and continues until winners are crowned in the 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 tournaments.
The event was organized by Mat Parker, Rockford Public Schools Athletic Director. Before joining Rockford Public Schools, Parker was the boys basketball coach at South Beloit. Parker's best team was the 2008-2009 squad that went 28-2 and won the school's first regional title in 31 years. Little was captain of that team.
Little went missing on Memorial Day 2015 and tragically his body was found two months later. Parker put together the tournaments to benefit the South Beloit athletic department.
Parker hopes to build the Little Fundraiser into an annual area summer championship of sorts. It's the kind of event missing in the Rockford area since the Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournaments stopped being held here in 2008.
Parker worked hard to bring together a talented field and a number of the top local players will be in the 5-on-5 division, which includes 15 teams. Some of the players lacing it up include:
- Former Harlem center Casey Beck is joining forces with former East player, Deontray Austin.
- Rock Valley College standout Damari Davis is teaming up with South Beloit stars Katonka Frier and Terrell Williams.
- Jackson Doyle and Mitch Massino head a team of ex-Hononegah players.
- Malik Lightfoot is on a squad of ex-Harlem hoopers.
- Kurt Broski, CEO of Entre Computers, is known for putting together strong rec league teams. His squad includes both East basketball coaches, Roy Sackmaster and L.A. Malone, as well as Belvidere principal Billy Lewis, a former Hononegah star.