ELKHART, Ind. — Mayor Tim Neese and the Gus Macker planning committee announced the return of the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament July 7-8 in Elkhart, at the Woodland Crossing parking lot next to the former Sears Department Store building.

Elkhart hosted the Macker Tournament in the 1980s and this year’s tournament celebrates the 45th year of Gus Macker Basketball. For the first 13 years it was a single tournament started by a pair of brothers and their friends in 1974, but became a festival phenomenon and America’s Original 3-on-3 Basketball Tour in 1987.

Through the years there have been 1,421 sanctioned Gus Macker Tournaments presented for more than 670,800 teams, or almost 2.7 million players and played in front of more than 27.5 million spectators. 

Buddies, friends, family members, former teammates and are encouraged to register a team now. Teams of four members can be all male, female, coed and all ages are encouraged to enter. High school and college players have their own special category.

The City of Elkhart is co-hosting this event alongside River Oaks Community Church and Zion Missionary Church with participating teams from all over Michiana and beyond. The proceeds from this year’s event will go to benefit YWCA Safe Haven Women’s Shelter and Child and Parent Services.

To register, visit macker.com/elkhart-in Click on the blue bar “Register” and follow the prompts. Sign-Up deadline is June 18. Fee is $140 per team.