By Alyssa Whitney

The twelve NIRSA Regional Basketball Championships have come to a close, and now we look ahead to North Carolina State University where the 2015 NIRSA National Basketball Championships will be held April 17-19. The hard work, drive, and determination has paid off for hundreds of players who will flood Raleigh in hopes of being crowned one of this year’s national champions. With a year’s worth of bragging rights on the line and emotions high, we expect to see these teams lay it all on the court.

Aaron Hobson from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Chair of the Basketball Work Team, says that “This year’s national tournament is shaping up to be filled with high scoring, above-the-rim play and lights-out shooting. The road to the NIRSA National Basketball Championship at NC State is bright!”

Convinced it’s more than just a competition, we asked a regional winner what traveling to the NIRSA National Basketball Championship means to them. “I’m looking most forward to being able to expose our talents to multiple schools around the nation, along with the NIRSA organization,” proclaims Phil Mays, a player on the United State Air Force Academy Men’s Club team which won the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Regional. “Also,” he continues, “to representing the United States Air Force Academy in such a respectful manner that it captures the spectator’s attention.”

For student officials, the opportunity to advance to the national tournament is a chance to learn and develop their skills. Brent Haskill, a University of South Florida student and a top official from the University of Central Florida’s Regional, says that he “had a great time here at UCF and can’t wait to go to NC State to continue learning about the game from an official’s stand point. There will be evaluators from across the country that will bring different ideas and knowledge of the game, which will help me continue my growth.”

The weekend at North Carolina State University includes a pre-tournament training clinic with a variety of collegiate and professional officials. Games will also be videotaped so clinicians can provide student officials with feedback, and each student official will receive a spreadsheet which summarizes every evaluative comment made during their experience.

It’s not too late for your team to get in on the action! Registration for the 2015 NIRSA National Basketball Championships is open through Monday, April 6 on IMLeagues. And thanks to social media, even those unable to attend the tournament can follow the action! Tournament staff will provide live updates and photos via Twitter and Instagram throughout the weekend from the @NIRSAChamp handle and using the hashtag #NIRSABB. We encourage you to follow these accounts and be part of the excitement! In addition, archives of game recaps and photos for participants to view during and after the event can be found on the tournament website.

 

For more information about the 2015 NIRSA National Basketball Championships, contact NIRSA Director of National Sport Programs Valerie McCutchan.