Ayinde Ubaka Invitational Tournament
Saturday August 9th, 10:00a. Oakland High School
The vision for this tournament is for Oakland Police Officers, Oakland young men, and basketball enthusiasts to build community.
Additionally, the hope is that this tournament would be a catalyst for a Community Day in the Fall where the school and the local community comes together to plan a “Love your School Day” in early October for a day of swimming, jumpers, bands, food booths and school tours.
Additionally, the hope is that this tournament would be a catalyst for a Community Day in the Fall where the school and the local community comes together to plan a “Love your School Day” in early October for a day of swimming, jumpers, bands, food booths and school tours.
Come out and Watch Some
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Location and Directions
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Official Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Park, Event Chair
Trybe Inc.
(510) 510-567-4654
baypark@gmail.com
www.oaklandtrybe.org
Headline: Oakland Police to Play Ball with the Community in High-Level Basketball Competition at Oakland High
Oakland – The Oakland Police Department will face off against local teams in the Ayinde Ubaka Invitational Basketball Tournament on Saturday, August 9 in East Oakland. Led by Lieutenant Leronne Armstrong, the OPD team will take on East Oakland players, including some former professional players, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Oakland High School Gym.
The tournament, which is open to the public and will benefit the Oakland High School basketball program, provides a unique opportunity for Oakland police officers to positively engage with young men from the community. “Right now, a lot is happening in Oakland to help bridge divides,” says Andrew Park, a tournament organizer and director of Trybe Inc, a community-based youth outreach program. “One of the best ways a community can get healthy is for the community and law enforcement to come together, so people feel like the police are working for them.”
In addition to promoting healthy and safe interactions among community members, the Ayinde Ubaka tournament will provide many young men the opportunity to play at their alma mater while at the same time, giving back to the school’s basketball program, according to Orlando Watkins, who is head coach of the Oakland High School Basketball Team. “I’ve coached basketball for decades, and this is one of the most unique tournaments I have been a part of. It will be fun to watch the games, especially with OPD out there.” Plus, basketball fans will be able to catch a high-level of competition at a local gymnasium. “I can’t wait for the tournament,” said Park, a neighborhood resident, who also co-chairs the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)-17. “To see our hardworking officers mixing it up with young men from the neighborhood is a rare treat.”
Named for Ayinde Ubaka, a professional basketball player, who grew up in East Oakland and played basketball for Oakland High School, the event is expected to attract more than 50 players, along with local youth, who will help coordinate event logistics. Ubaka received a scholarship to U.C. Berkeley, where he was named to the All-Pac-10 team. Following his years at Cal, he played professionally overseas for seven years. Ubaka and Coach Watkins, who coached him in high school, have kept in close contact over the years.
Rich Twu, Executive Director of Dream League, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the employment and training of disadvantaged youth through the business of running community basketball leagues, and Founder/Editor-In-Chief of LetsGoWarriors.com, a credentialed media outlet for Golden State Warriors fans, says "My mission is to leverage basketball to help the community, especially urban youth. These sorts of tournaments are what we need more of to engage youth and bring people together. I've even got former pro players from the Philippines flying out to play and contribute to Oakland." Asi Taulava (6'9" power forward) and Joshua Urbiztondo (6'0" point guard) will be headlining a powerful Dreamleague.org/LetsGoWarriors.com squad. The only question is whether the competition on the court is enough to lure local hero Ubaka back on the court to play in his own tournament.
Teams expected to participate include Trybe Inc., Oakland Leadership Center (OLC), Dreamleague/LetsGoWarriors and the Oakland High All-Stars. The tournament will start at 10:30a.m. at Oakland High School, which is located at 1023 MacArthur Blvd, near Park Blvd. in Oakland. Sliding scale donations, from $5 up, are requested for entrance. All proceeds will go to support the Oakland High School basketball program.
Contact: Andrew Park, Event Chair
Trybe Inc.
(510) 510-567-4654
baypark@gmail.com
www.oaklandtrybe.org
Headline: Oakland Police to Play Ball with the Community in High-Level Basketball Competition at Oakland High
Oakland – The Oakland Police Department will face off against local teams in the Ayinde Ubaka Invitational Basketball Tournament on Saturday, August 9 in East Oakland. Led by Lieutenant Leronne Armstrong, the OPD team will take on East Oakland players, including some former professional players, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Oakland High School Gym.
The tournament, which is open to the public and will benefit the Oakland High School basketball program, provides a unique opportunity for Oakland police officers to positively engage with young men from the community. “Right now, a lot is happening in Oakland to help bridge divides,” says Andrew Park, a tournament organizer and director of Trybe Inc, a community-based youth outreach program. “One of the best ways a community can get healthy is for the community and law enforcement to come together, so people feel like the police are working for them.”
In addition to promoting healthy and safe interactions among community members, the Ayinde Ubaka tournament will provide many young men the opportunity to play at their alma mater while at the same time, giving back to the school’s basketball program, according to Orlando Watkins, who is head coach of the Oakland High School Basketball Team. “I’ve coached basketball for decades, and this is one of the most unique tournaments I have been a part of. It will be fun to watch the games, especially with OPD out there.” Plus, basketball fans will be able to catch a high-level of competition at a local gymnasium. “I can’t wait for the tournament,” said Park, a neighborhood resident, who also co-chairs the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)-17. “To see our hardworking officers mixing it up with young men from the neighborhood is a rare treat.”
Named for Ayinde Ubaka, a professional basketball player, who grew up in East Oakland and played basketball for Oakland High School, the event is expected to attract more than 50 players, along with local youth, who will help coordinate event logistics. Ubaka received a scholarship to U.C. Berkeley, where he was named to the All-Pac-10 team. Following his years at Cal, he played professionally overseas for seven years. Ubaka and Coach Watkins, who coached him in high school, have kept in close contact over the years.
Rich Twu, Executive Director of Dream League, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the employment and training of disadvantaged youth through the business of running community basketball leagues, and Founder/Editor-In-Chief of LetsGoWarriors.com, a credentialed media outlet for Golden State Warriors fans, says "My mission is to leverage basketball to help the community, especially urban youth. These sorts of tournaments are what we need more of to engage youth and bring people together. I've even got former pro players from the Philippines flying out to play and contribute to Oakland." Asi Taulava (6'9" power forward) and Joshua Urbiztondo (6'0" point guard) will be headlining a powerful Dreamleague.org/LetsGoWarriors.com squad. The only question is whether the competition on the court is enough to lure local hero Ubaka back on the court to play in his own tournament.
Teams expected to participate include Trybe Inc., Oakland Leadership Center (OLC), Dreamleague/LetsGoWarriors and the Oakland High All-Stars. The tournament will start at 10:30a.m. at Oakland High School, which is located at 1023 MacArthur Blvd, near Park Blvd. in Oakland. Sliding scale donations, from $5 up, are requested for entrance. All proceeds will go to support the Oakland High School basketball program.