LEWES — Organizers announced today that Slam Dunk to the Beach will return to Cape Henlopen High this December but under a new partnership.

The boys’ basketball tournament has partnered with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to become part of their ‘Hoophall’ series of regional tourneys. Slam Dunk will be the Hoophall East event.

This year’s tourney is slated for Dec. 27-29 at Cape Henlopen. The participating teams have not been announced yet.

According to a Hoophall press release, “By merging the history and success of the event with the Hoophall brand, Lewes will see an elevated event.”

"Overall, we are excited for this opportunity to be associated with a series of national events and most importantly a brand like the Basketball Hall of Fame," said Slam Dunk tournament chairman Dr. Matthew Robinson.

"The event will continue its tradition of showcasing the best high school basketball teams and players in the country while elevating the quality of the event as well as the exposure for the event, Sussex County and the state of Delaware through the relationship with the Basketball Hall of Fame."

Other Hoophall regional tournaments are being held in Scottsdale, Ariz., Sioux Falls, S.D. and Bentonville, Ar. with the Hoophall Classic slated for mid-January in Springfield, Mass., where the Hall of Fame is located.

“Hoophall Classic has evolved into one of the premier high school events of the season and while the event continues to grow year over year, we realize there’s more talent to celebrated in other parts of the country, especially where the popularity of high school basketball is extraordinary,” Greg Procino, Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Naismith Memorial Basketball
Hall of Fame, said in the press release.

“With our new regional concept, players from coast-to-coast will be afforded the opportunity to showcase their skills on the Hoophall stage, while the Hall of Fame can continue to grow and celebrate the game in new communities.”

This past winter’s Slam Dunk tournament was canceled because of the pandemic.