Best in Show: Ex-Zags to meet in charity game to kick off Hoopfest
As crews begin to transform downtown Spokane from a busy Friday into the world’s largest outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament, some old junkyard Bulldogs will be reliving the 18-year run of Gonzaga glory in the NCAA tournament.
The inaugural Gonzaga alumni game, a 5-on-5 affair led by captains Jeremy Pargo and Dan Dickau, will highlight the opening of the 26th Hoopfest at the same time crews tackle the massive undertaking to assemble the 450 courts that will become home to about 7,000 teams and about 3,000 volunteers.
In a 2,000 seat outdoor arena in front of the Spokane Convention Center, Team Pargo will take on Team Dickau at 7 p.m. Friday with a collection of former Bulldogs that include those still playing professionally and a few who may be a bit long in the tooth.
Both rosters include names etched into local sports history based on the 18-consecutive runs they made in March.
“The plan is to play and have fun,” captain Jeremy Pargo said, “and at the end of the day, I will win.”
Team Pargo includes Pargo (2005-09), Casey Calvary (1997-01), Winston Brooks (2001-03), Alex Hernandez (2000-02), Ira Brown (2007-09), Austin Daye (2007-09), Derek Raivio (2003-07), Colin Floyd (2002-06), Erroll Knight (2003-06), David Pendergraft (2004-08), Gary Bell Jr. (2011-15) and Matt Santangelo (1996-00).
Team Dickau includes himself (2000-02), Micah Downs (2006-09), Steven Gray (2007-11), Blake Stepp (2000-04), Kyle Dranginis (2012-16), Kevin Pangos (2011-15), Zach Gourde (1999-03), David Stockton (2010-14), Corey Violette (2000-04), Ryan Floyd (1996-00) and Drew Barham (2012-14).
“You can put it in bold, capital letters: My team is going to win,” Dickau said. “Pargo’s team is terrible.”
Other than Daye (6-foot-11) and Calvary (6-8) for Team Pargo and Violette (6-8) for Team Dickau, the rosters don’t have much in the way of power forwards or centers.
“Bigs tend to get hurt easier,” Dickau said. “Unfortunately, it’s going to be a guard-heavy game. But it should be a ton of fun.”
The halftime festivities will include a 3-point shooting contest. And after the game, some players will take part in a dunk contest.
“I don’t need bigs,” Pargo said when asked about the guard-heavy rosters. “I need athletes who can move and run and do different things.”
Asked why, then, he picked Pendergraft, Pargo replied: “Because David is a tough guy who makes a difference for us. I planned it all out pretty well.”
Dickau, who has been in a running Twitter battle with Pargo, called foul on his game plan.
“Part of the reason I structured my team the way I did is because 3s are worth more than 2s,” Dickau said. “I don’t think Jeremy realizes that. I’ve got a lot of shooters on my team.”
Santangelo, in his third year guiding Hoopfest, said many of the former Gonzaga big men are still playing professionally.
“I think Pargo’s team is a little more athletic,” Santangelo said. Asked if that’s because he is on the team, he replied: “Exactly right.
“It may actually end up being pretty good basketball,” he continued. “Except for some older dogs like myself, a lot of these guys are still playing all over the world. It should be a pretty fun night.”
Santangelo cautioned that the rosters remained somewhat fluid as a couple players from out of town were still trying to make arrangements. The event will also include other players from the program’s past and they have yet to hear from some former players such as Adam Morrison (2003-06).
The proceeds from the event will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Spokane and the Ignite Basketball Association, an outreach program between Hoopfest and Spokane Public Schools.
“Part of the deal with tying it into Hoopfest is to give back to the community,” Dickau said.
Set up
While he will always welcome more, Santangelo said he had a recent surge of volunteers who have committed to work as court monitors.
“We are really seeing it pick up,” he said. “That’s sort of the magic of Hoopfest. I’m new enough to still be amazed by how it all comes together.”
In the last weeks, Santangelo has been pouring over the brackets for the elite players.
“Trying to bracket 14,000 games is every bit as challenging as setting up 450 courts,” he said. “Everybody is running around with their hair on fire, which is par for the course for this event.”
12-man tour
Hoopfest fans on Saturday will get to meet a couple of the newest members of the Seattle Seahawks as rookie offensive linemen Germain Ifedi and Rees Odiambo will serve as judges for the qualifying rounds of the dunk contest at Nike Center Court.
Ifedi and Odiambo are rolling into town Saturday as part of the 12 Tour.
Ifedi, a 6-5, 325 pound offensive tackle from Texas A&M said he’s looking forward to see more of Washington than the Seattle and Renton areas.
“It’s beautiful here, but I am finally getting out to see how great Washington is,” he said. “I’ve been welcomed in with open arms in the Seattle area. It will be a good chance to show the fans gratitude for their support.”