National Hillel Basketball Tournament Kicks Off Its 13th Year at the University of Maryland
Over 240 Jewish Students from 32 universities participated in this year’s tournament
The National Hillel Basketball Tournament (NHBT) kicked off its 13th year at the University of Maryland on Thursday, April 3. Over 50 teams from 32 universities across North America gathered at the University of Maryland’s state-of-the-art facilities for the weekend-long tournament.
What started in 2010 as a small event organized by a handful of highly motivated students has now reached new heights. This year’s tournament is run by a team of 30 student leaders and will be one of the largest gatherings of Jewish college students in the country.
“Hillel International is proud to continue supporting the NHBT legacy, providing Jewish students with a space to step away from their daily routines and connect over a weekend of basketball and community,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. “As the world’s leading Jewish campus organization, we are dedicated to fostering Jewish joy and creating meaningful opportunities for students to come together and celebrate at the intersections of their Jewish identities and other areas of passion and interest.”
In addition to the tournament, players and fans participated in various off-the-court programs such as Shabbat meals and remarks by keynote speakers. Over 1,000 people attended the tournament, which included 444 Jewish student athletes. The participating universities include local campuses like Maryland and Johns Hopkins, East Coast schools like Brandeis and Binghamton, and even Midwest and West Coast teams like Northwestern, Illinois, UCLA, and Cal Poly.
“We’re thrilled to see this tournament continue to grow every year, creating this unique space of the national Jewish community,” said Michael Lurie, a senior at UMD and member of the NHBT Board. “Hosting this event at Maryland is such an honor, and we remain committed to expanding these opportunities for years to come.”
This year’s tournament was highly competitive, featuring players of all skill levels, but ultimately, the University of Pittsburgh men’s team and the Yeshiva University women’s team were crowned this year’s champions.