Junior basketball tournament involving Gisborne team a celebration of Kiwi great Kenny McFadden

Keen to honour a great man and see good hoops on show at the Kenny McFadden Memorial Tournament are Ngā Tuakana o Mai Rāwhiti Poitūkohu (Gizzy Hoops) Under-16s manager Paris Wilson (left), Gizzy Hoops founder and assistant coach Harriet "Peips" Tautau and tuakana tautoko Dom Wilson. Photo / Bev Hauiti

The late Kenny McFadden touched more lives than he won National Basketball League titles, played NBL games or scored points.

Ex-Wellington Saints guard and coach McFadden – a friend to NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson and mentor to Kiwi NBA star Stephen Adams – won four New Zealand first division titles, played 252 games and scored over 5000 points at an average of 20.

He worked with and inspired a generation to live well and play well before dying of polycystic kidney disease at age 61 in 2022.

McFadden’s influence on the local youngsters he came into contact with was such that Gizzy Hoops founder and Riverdale School teacher Harriet Tautau, in conjunction with Junior Hoops Basketball development coach Russell Kupa and Mai Rāwhiti Poitūkohu, are running the inaugural Kenny McFadden Memorial Tournament at Centralines Sports Complex in Waipukurau this weekend.

The tournament features Under-14 and U16 divisions.

Gisborne has an U16 team competing, led by head coach Damian Whitten and captain Keiha Blackman.

Tautau, known to most as Peips, said: “Our purpose is to honour and pay tribute to Kenny through our Gizzy Hoops development initiative, and celebrate his legacy and dedication to nurturing young talent.

“He was a beloved figure in the basketball community, known for his passionate commitment to empowering youth and fostering their potential both on and off the court.

“Kenny was my coach mentor outside of Te Tairāwhiti, and a close friend to our family. By establishing this kaupapa we aim to preserve his vision of creating opportunities for young athletes to grow, learn and succeed ... [and] have it serve as a lasting reminder of his contributions, inspiring future generations to uphold his values of perseverance, community and excellence in basketball.

“This initiative will help ensure that his impact continues to resonate, motivating aspiring players and enriching the sporting community in Kenny’s memory: ‘Shoot for the moon’.”

Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti chief executive and basketball player Stefan Pishief is on board with the initiative.

“Basketball’s more than just a game. It reflects life,” he said. “Community ball is massive in Tairāwhiti, thanks to local champions like Peips, who strive to give opportunities to our kids that will challenge and support them in equal measure.

“It’s about learning life skills towards positive pathways. The growth we’ve seen in many of our rangatahi over the years has been inspiring.

“This memorial tournament is an awesome kaupapa, acknowledging the living legend that Kenny was and someone who cared about Tairāwhiti. I can’t wait to see it in action.”