Basketball Tournament Director Steps Down

Kenn I. Hicks, the director of the Summer Basketball Showdown since he founded the event in 1981, has resigned effective at the conclusion of this year’s Labor Day weekend event.

Hicks, also founder and executive director of The New Social Workers, the nonprofit organization that runs the tournament, said he has tired of dealing with fund-raising and sponsorship issues. Hicks said he will leave it to program director Hymie Glass to administrate future tournaments.

This year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 1-3 on the outdoor courts at Venice Beach. The five-on-five, single-elimination tournament is made up of 28 teams in seven age-group divisions, including a pro division for players who have professional experience or aspirations of playing as a professional.