Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament returns to New Mexico

The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is returning to several New Mexico communities this spring, including in Carlsbad on March 28-29 and downtown Hobbs on April 25 -26.

Other scheduled stops in the state include Las Cruces in May, with additional tournaments planned for Mescalero, Portales, and Deming later in the year.

Each tournament supports local charitable causes through its registration fees and sponsorships. In Carlsbad, the tournament takes place at the beach area parking lot and serves as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad. Proceeds support after-school programming and youth development initiatives. In Hobbs, the competition is held downtown at 300 East Broadway, near City Hall.

The Gus Macker tournament originated in 1974 when Scott McNeal, nicknamed “Gus Macker,” hosted a small basketball competition for 18 friends on his parents’ driveway in Lowell, Michigan. Since its inception, the organization has expanded into a nationwide tour that has held nearly 1,000 tournaments across the U.S.

Registration for the upcoming New Mexico dates is currently open through the official event website. For the Carlsbad tournament, the signup deadline is March 9, while teams interested in the Hobbs event must register by April 6. The tournaments feature a double-elimination format and include various brackets to ensure fair competition for youth, recreational, and competitive adult teams.