MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis is a basketball town. From children tossing up shots on concrete courts and state championships won and lost; to legendary University of Memphis Tigers teams with players like Keith Lee, Penny Hardaway, and Derrick Rose; to the soul of the community bound into the Grit ‘n’ Grind of the Grizzlies, the Bluff City shares its heart on the hardwood.

In that spirit, County Commissioner Britney Thornton is hosting the second-annual “Hoop to be Heard” basketball tournament in Orange Mound and the surrounding neighborhoods to benefit area youth.

A week-long 5-v-5 tournament for players 18 and up, “Hoop to be Heard” aims to feature all five community centers across Thornton’s District 10: Pine Hill, Bethel LaBelle, Glenview, Whitehaven, and Orange Mound.

Starting on October 14, the tournament will feature ladder exhibitions of teams competing for the number one spot until the championship game on Saturday.

Sign up is free, and players will be competing for a grand prize of $1,000 per player.

The tournament schedule will be as follows:

October 14 – Pine Hill Community Center, 973 Alice Ave., 5:00-8:00                         p.m.October 15 – Bethel LaBelle Community Center, 2698 Larose Ave., 5:00-                   8:00 p.m.October 16 – Glenview Community Center, 1141 S. Barksdale St., 5:00-                     8:00 p.m.October 17 – Whitehaven Community Center, 4318 Graceland Dr., 5:00-                   8:00 p.m.October 18 – Orange Mound Community Center, 2572 Park Ave.,                               11:00a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Admission is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to see faced-paced action, local entertainment, and a celebration of the community and Memphis’ unique culture.

“‘Hoop to be Heard’ is more than a tournament–it’s a movement,” Thornton said. “We are using the power of basketball to remind our young adults that their voices matter, their communities matter, and their futures are worth fighting for.”