Dover, Del. (Mar. 27, 2019) – Delaware State’s Kevin Larkin has been selected to participate in the 2019 Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship, scheduled for April 5-7 at Minnesota’s Mall of America. Larkin is one of four players selected from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selected to compete in the event.
The tournament is comprised of all-star teams of seniors, who have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, representing all 32 Division I conferences. The teams will compete for a $150,000 prize pool, with the champions taking home $100,000, double the prize money from a year ago. Additionally, the winners will earn the right to compete in the 2019 USA Basketball 3x3 Open National Championship later this spring.
Larkin, a 2018-19 All-MEAC Third Team selection, was tops on the Hornets and fourth in the MEAC in scoring at 16.0 points per game, and was third in the league in rebounding at 8.9 per game. In addition, he was tied for second in the conference with 11 “double-doubles” this past season.
On Dec. 3, 2018 vs. Cairn, Larkin scored a career-high 40 points, the top single-game total in the MEAC this season. He also had 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals to lead the Hornets to a 102-66 victory in that contest.
Larkin reached double-figures in scoring in 20 of the 24 games in which he competed, topping the 20-point mark five times.
His season was also highlighted by the game-winning basket with 3.4 seconds left to play in the Hornets’ 73-71 victory at Delaware on Dec. 19.
A native of Georgetown, Del., and product of Sussex Tech High School, Larkin attended Cheyney University (Pa.) and Niagara (N.Y.) before returning to the First State to attend DSU and compete for the Hornets this season.
Larkin is the second Hornet selected to compete in the national 3x3 tournament in its two years.
DSU Artem Tavakalyan was a member of the MEAC squad that reached the final four of the 2018 tournament in San Antonio, Tex.
All games of the 2019 Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship will be carried live on Twitter or ESPN2. Pool play will begin at 3 p.m. ET on April 5, with 24 games streamed live exclusively on Twitter. Pool play will continue on April 6 at 9:30 a.m. ET with 24 more games streamed live exclusively on Twitter. Round of 16 and quarterfinal games will be streamed live exclusively on Twitter at 10:30 a.m. ET on April 7, with semifinal, consolation and championship games televised live on ESPN2 later that day at 3 p.m. ET. Returning to call all the action throughout the tournament will be the voice of FIBA 3x3 basketball, Kyle Montgomery, with Robbie Hummel of ESPN and Tate Frazier and Mark Titus of The Ringer’s One Shining Podcast providing color commentary and sideline coverage.
“The attention from the inaugural Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship last year has really elevated the anticipation for this year’s event at Mall of America,” said Drew Russell, executive vice president at Intersport, the Chicago-based agency which operates the event. “We are incredibly excited about the field of players that will be competing in the event and believe the talent that will be on display will create an unforgettable atmosphere for everyone involved. Additionally, we’re confident these players are going to enjoy a one of a kind experience that will help position them for the next steps in their basketball careers.”
Each team roster will be comprised of four eligible seniors from the same Division I conference. Teams will be organized into eight pools of four and each team will be guaranteed three pool play games, earning $1,000 for every victory on Friday and Saturday. The top two teams in each pool will move on to Sunday’s knockout stage, where the stakes skyrocket. Only the teams competing in the tournament final will earn additional prize money, with the champions winning $100,000.
The setting for the second annual Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship will be unlike anything the 128 players have seen when they take to the half-court inside Mall of America, the most popular tourist destination in Minnesota with more than 40 million visitors each year. The Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship will be staged in the Rotunda at the Mall, which hosted the first WCW Monday Nitro in September 1995, and will be just the second live sporting event to be broadcast in the Mall’s history.
Bragging rights for the winners won’t end in Minnesota; the 2019 champion will earn the right to represent the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship at the USA Basketball 3x3 Open National Championship later this spring. There, athletes will have the opportunity to be selected to represent the United States in the 2019 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, held June 18-23 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Participating athletes will also be considered for the USA Basketball 3x3 athlete pool, which may lead to future opportunities in other FIBA 3x3 competitions. Of note, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo will feature 3x3 basketball as a medal sport for the first time.
Admission to the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship is free and fans are encouraged to be part of the atmosphere during regular Mall of America operating hours (10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. CT on April 5-6, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT on April 7).
Since 1985, Intersport has been an award-winning innovator and leader in the creation of sports, lifestyle, culinary and entertainment-based marketing platforms. With expertise in Sponsorship Consulting, Experiential Marketing, Hospitality, Customer Engagement, Content Marketing, Productions and Sports Properties, this Chicago-based Marketing & Media Solutions Company helps their clients to create ideas, content and experiences that attract and engage passionate audiences. To learn more about Intersport, visit www.intersportnet.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Dan Mihalik, Intersport, firstname.lastname@example.org, 312-883-3998