By Zack Martino
There’s just something special about the number three in basketball.
Some of the all-time greats have worn it on their uniform. Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Ben Wallace are amongst those who have donned the number.
Of course we have the three point line, and ever since LeBron took his talents to South Beach, nobody could forget the term “Big Three.”
Another huge three in basketball, and every other sport, is the three-peat.
Jordan did it twice in Chicago, Kobe and Shaq did it in Los Angeles and this year, Dan Exter looks to reach that mark too in Roxbury, New Jersey.
Saturday April 29, 2017 will mark the third year of Exter’s Layups 4 Life, an annual three on three charity basketball tournament with the benefits going towards Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
“To date, Layups 4 Life has raised closed to $30,000 for cancer research and clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,” Exter said. “In 2016, we had the unique opportunity to use those funds and provide funding for a doctor’s research.”
For more information on this, please visit http://www.layups4life.org/making-cancer-fade-away/.
With it being the third year of Layups 4 Life, Exter is hopeful that even more people come out and play than before.
“Our turnout in 2016 was bigger than it was in 2015 so we are hoping for that trend to continue,” he said. “Layups 4 Life is engaging with local basketball groups and organizations, in addition to a communities outside of the Roxbury Township area. We still need our past participants and attendees to help us get the word out. We will be looking at bigger venues to host our annual tournament going forward.”
Some changes have been made in the hopes of growing the tournament and getting even more people involved.
“One of the biggest changes that we are making to this year’s event is opening our baseline age group from 15 and up to 13 and up,” Exter said. “We hope that this will bring in a whole new audience and expand our team registration. While we have had 40 teams participate in both 2015 and 2016, we want to continually grow and expand our tournament. We are hoping that with this added age group, we will be able to do exactly that.”
Two aspects that always excites participants are the raffles and silent auctions. Every year, Layups 4 Life has fantastic items for people to buy raffle tickets for and bid on. This year promises to be no different.
“We will have some great items this year,” he said. “Gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses. Signed sports memorabilia and tickets to games from teams like the New York Rangers, New York Knicks, NYC FC, the Somerset Patriots and many others.”
You can register for Layups 4 Life through the link below. Teams could be co-ed and have a maximum of four players. Registration is $30 per player.
Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/layups-4-life-3rd-annual-3-on-3-charity-basketball-tournament-tickets-28473218162.
Zack Martino Sports 