WJW: Jewish College Students Pack University of Maryland for National Hillel Basketball Tournament
Originally published on April 8, 2025 in the Washington Jewish Week, “Jewish College Students Pack University of Maryland for National Hillel Basketball Tournament,” written by Washington Jewish Week intern Isaac Shiner, is a joy-filled recap of the 2025 National Hillel Basketball Tournament which brought together over 1,500 Jewish students for a weekend of community and basketball.
Maryland Hillel became the center of excitement and community this past weekend as more than 1,500 Jewish college students gathered for the 13th annual National Hillel Basketball Tournament. The weekend was not just about competition; it was a celebration of Jewish identity and connection.
The tournament brought 445 Jewish athletes from more than 30 campuses across the country, turning the University of Maryland’s gymnasiums into hubs of Jewish connections and competitive basketball.
“They get to compete, playing a game they love,” Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International, said. “They get to build relationships with other Jewish students coming from across North America, and they get to celebrate what it means to be Jewish and be passionate about other interests that intersect with their Jewish identities.”
Lehman emphasized the student-driven nature of the event.
“NHBT also demonstrates the beautiful equation where students who design experiences that reflect their passions, in turn, are very involved in benefiting from those exact programs,” Lehman said.
While basketball was the centerpiece, the weekend was filled with other festivities as well, from a Thursday night mixer at a local bar to Shabbat prayers and meals hosted at Maryland Hillel. A team from the University of Pittsburgh claimed the men’s Tier 1 Championship, while a team from Yeshiva University claimed the title on the women’s side, capping off a competitive weekend of tournament play on Sunday.
The tournament opened Friday morning with seeding games. Each team faced off against three opponents to determine rankings for bracket play. In total, 44 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams competed across seven brackets — five for men and two for women — representing schools such as Drexel University; Indiana University; John Hopkins University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Illinois; and many more.
Men’s Tier 1 semifinalists included teams from University of Pittsburgh, University of Michigan, Duke University and Brandeis University. On the women’s side, teams from Yeshiva University, Columbia University, Washington University and Binghamton University finished in the top four.
Fans filled the stands throughout the weekend, creating a lively environment on and off the court. Daniel Mann, a student fan from Rutgers, said his first time at the tournament was an “11 out of 10 experience.”
“I got to watch my Rutgers basketball team play very well,” Mann said. “It’s been very fun to watch and just hanging out with people on Shabbos.”
Players and attendees tracked statistics, schedules and standings through a student-developed app. Founded by students more than a decade ago, the tournament remains a student-run tradition anchored at Maryland Hillel.
“Some competitive and Jewishly involved basketball players wanted to come together with friends from other schools who were also Jewishly engaged and interested in competing on the basketball court,” Lehman said.
Michael Lurie, a University of Maryland alumnus who graduated in December, has been a key organizer since his sophomore year.
“We have the space and the capacity to do something special here,” Lurie said. “We don’t plan on giving up that title anytime soon.”
Ruthie Price, a student athlete from the University of Michigan, competed alongside teammates from her campus intramural league.
“Since coming to college, I’ve been super connected to the Jewish community, and I wanted to come see how other Jewish communities are at different schools and come together as one big Jewish community,” Price said.
Price lost her first seeding game but won her second — a “really exciting game,” she said.
At Ohio State University, the excitement was already building the week before the event, Lehman said. Students approached him to say they were “incredibly excited” to compete and determined to bring a championship back to Columbus. Michael Smouha, who came to the tournament from Baruch College, shared a humorous perspective on the social aspect of the weekend.
“This is one of the best opportunities to find a wife,” Smouha said. “There’s supposed to be a lot of pretty girls with good values. I thought, hey, why not take a shot.”
While Smouha’s comments added a lighthearted moment to the weekend, they also highlighted the strong sense of community and connection that extended beyond the courts.
“I love my fellow Jews,” said Isaac Kroub, a player from Baruch College. “I love connecting with everyone.”
The event’s success wasn’t just fueled by the energy of the players and fans; it also benefited from the support of various sponsors. These organizations saw the tournament as an opportunity to connect with the college Jewish community and promote their messages.
First-time sponsor Athletes for Israel — a nonprofit that, according to its website, partners with athletes to fight antisemitism and promote an accurate view of Israel — joined the roster this year.
JScreen, a nonprofit offering genetic carrier screening, also sponsored part of the tournament. Ashley Eisenberg, who staffed a table for JScreen on Saturday night, said that reaching college students is key to raising awareness about genetic health.
“This is one of the biggest events for college Jewish students,” Eisenberg said, explaining why JScreen wanted to be there.
“If you didn’t come this year, we are so excited, and we would love to have you next year for the tournament — either as a player or as a fan. We only grow every year, so there will hopefully be another seat at the table or another space on the court for you,” Lurie said.