Colfax locals reminisce at Spokane Hoopfest

SPOKANE - Spokane saw the streets light up as the annual Hoopfest tournament took place June 24 and 25.

The event is advertised as the largest 3-on-3 tournament in the world. Annually, around 250,000 competitors play in the tournament, shutting down 45 blocks in the city of Spokane, and 422 courts that help keep the competition flowing for 31 years and counting.

Amongst competitors in this years tournament are Whitman County locals Will Hatley, Justin Berarducci, Jared Berarducci, and Kyle Johnson.

Justin Berarducci and Kyle Johnson graduated from Colfax High School in the class of 2012, Jared Berarducci graduated from Colfax in 2008, and Hatley graduated in 2010.

All four members of the team played varsity basketball for Colfax high school while in school, and they all loved the memories they have from their high school basketball days.

"Basketball has been a huge part of our lives, we all grew up in Colfax and played varsity basketball for Colfax. Justin Berarducci and Kyle Johnson were a big reason Colfax won state basketball in 2012. That was the last time the boys team won the title," Jared Berarducci said.

Justin was quick to talk about his love for basketball, as well as his love for Hoopfest. The competition is something he enjoys playing in to keep his basketball competitive juices flowing, while creating memories with his closest friends for years to come.

"We've all played in multiple Hoopfests. This was my 23rd year doing Hoopfest. It was the 20th year for the rest of the guys," Jared Berarducci said.

One struggle the four faced in recent years was the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down Hoopfest the last few years. The group decided this tournament to switch it up and try something new, with help from an assistant coach.

"We really wanted to represent our hometown and show appreciation for the place we all fell in love with basketball. We were able to obtain our old Colfax basketball jerseys form assistant coach Ben Aune.

Jared Berarducci also talked about how many people would come up to them this year at the tournament and be willing to talk to the team and share their own stories about Colfax and the town.

"We had so much fun in the tournament, we had fun reconnecting and seeing how special this year was for us," Jared Berarducci said.

Another team with local athletes was Team Trash, which consisted of three athletes from Colfax, and one from Garfield-Palouse. Dillion Thompson, Gunner Brown, and Adrik Jenkins are all from Colfax. Lane Collier was the athlete from Garfield-Palouse.

Team Trash won their Hoopfest bracket, and all the athletes are going to be sophomores in the fall.