Hoopin’ for a cause: MLK Basketball Classic benefits high school students [Video]

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic took place Monday at the University of Arizona in the McKale Memorial Center.

The event has been going on for 21 years.

It’s put on by the non-profit, Coaches for Charity and the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD).

Janet Hare, Coaches for Charity Vice President and Co-Founder, says the organization celebrates students in education and athletics by promoting a more healthy community life, giving back, and sponsoring great athletic events.

“MLK Day being our biggest one where we bring a number of high school girls and boys teams to celebrate Martin Luther King and by playing basketball all day long,” said Hare. “They have the whole McKale experience from coming in to the locker rooms and playing on the floor. A lot of our student athletes might not get a chance to go to a University of Arizona game so this is a once in a lifetime experience.”

16 high school teams throughout Southern Arizona played for …