Basketball teams from southern Illinois, the Metro East, Chicago and 6 states are in Carbondale this weekend for the Carbondale Holiday Showcase.
The tournament has been re-branded as the Illinois Get Down. The tournament is in it's 59th year.
Dan Cross played in the tournament for Carbondale High School. He is organizing this year's event at Carbondale Community High School.
Games begin Friday evening and continue all day Saturday.
After playing in the tournament and for the Terriers Cross went on to play a hall of fame career at the University of Florida. He says the tournament has allowed many other to go on to collegiate and professional careers, "It provides an opportunity and another lifeline to receive higher education, a free education, receiving scholarships, to kids coming from areas like myself."
Cross says this tournament will impact the players long after they're done playing this weekend. The players he played against are now coaches he works with to bring teams to the tournament, "This is all about lifelong relationships, networking, and how the game of basketball can affect and impact many people around the world."
