Knoxville — The second edition of the AAU 3on3 National Championship took place again at the Knoxville Marriott Convention Center and hosted by Visit Knoxville. This three-day event is run in conjunction with the annual Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame produced three age-level champions.
Team who participated in the three age groups: 5/6, 7/8 and high school qualified for the event by either competing in the AAU 3on3 Regional Qualifiers or claimed at at-large bid for the tournament. Teams from six states were present for this year’s edition.
All the participants were able tour the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and go through the Hall, meet the inductees in an autograph session and do a Q&A with some of the Hall of Fame members.
The competition covered two days of play and produced three champions with; Lakeway, TN beating Team Eleate from Riverside, CA 21.4. The 7/8 grade division came down to Top Gun, TN with two-time Blue Star 30s superstar Lauren Hassell leading them to a 14-7 win over East TN Thunder Navy. The high school division came down to a close battle with Magnolia State MS defeating Lady Tusk Somerville SC 9-5.
AAU 3on3 7/8 Grade Champions AAU 3on3 5/6 Grade Champions
All the games are played with modified FIBA 3X3 rules with 10 minute games, 12 second shot clock and games either ending at the leader at 1o minutes or the first team to reach 21 point.
AAU 3on3 High School Champions
Next year the third AAU 3on3 AAU Championships will return to Knoxville again in conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame weekend.
National AAU 3on3 Qualifiers will be held in six regional sites for Age Groups: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th based on AAU age requirements and a High School All-Star division with age groups based on FIBA birth year rules. The AAU 3on3 AAU Qualifiers will be run starting next late February 2023. Right now USA Basketball selected a U18 FIBA World Championship team for competition and could start a U17 FIBA Americas qualifying team for this fall.
HALL NOTES: Those inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame are: announcer, Debbie Antonelli, former veteran player Alice “Cookie” Barron, DePaul Coach Doug Bruno, WNBA LV Aces Coach Becky Hammon, Old Dominion Coach Delisha Milton-Jones, former Western Kentucky & Nebraska Coach Paul Sanderford, legendary Canyon HS & West Texas A&M Coach Bob Schneider, former WNBA player Penny Taylor. The AAU 3on3 participant were able to attend the Induction ceremony at the famed Tennessee Theater courtesy of AAU Basketball and the Visit Knoxville staff.
