More than 200 youth basketball teams from 14 states will turn Wildwood into “Hoop Island” on May 30-31.
The teams will play at the Wildwoods Convention Center and surrounding gyms for Hoop Island, USA, one of the East Coast's largest AAU tournaments – and one of the loudest, fastest-paced events the Boardwalk hosts all summer.
Presented by Buckets By The Boardwalk, Hoop Island features a two-day basketball festival, with games running morning through evening across multiple courts.
Boys and girls teams in grades 3 through 11 will compete for trophies and championship gear. For residents and visitors, it promises to be one of the most entertaining family activities on the island to attend as a spectator.
Tickets will be available at the door.
"Hoop Island isn't built to feel like a regular tournament," said T-John Casiello, director of Buckets By The Boardwalk. "Families come down for the basketball, but they leave with a full Wildwoods weekend – the beach, the Boardwalk, the boards. That's the whole point of doing this here. We wanted an event the town would actually feel."
Beyond the games, the tournament is built around the Wildwoods experience itself. Teams stay in oceanfront hotels, eat on the Boardwalk between games, and turn what could be a one-day trip into a full destination weekend.
Past events have brought teams from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio – filling local restaurants and hotels in one of the first big weekends of Wildwood’s summer season.
Event details:
What: Hoop Island, USA – Youth Basketball Tournament
When: Saturday and Sunday, May 30–31
Where: Wildwoods Convention Center and surrounding gyms
Spectator Tickets: Available for purchase at the door
More Info: BucketsByTheBoardwalk.
