The Kings Empowerment Center in Vicksburg holds many events over the course of the year to help raise funds for its programs and upkeep.

The Big Boy basketball Tournament, an event for teams of players 16 and over, was the latest in a long line of ideas. The Kings Center conducts a summer basketball program for children, but Sunday’s tournament was its first for adult players.

“We want the people around our area to know this is a safe haven,” Vanessa Prentiss, the head of the financial board for the Kings Empowerment Center said. “Basketball is what we love and the kids and the community loves it. It helps bring us together.”

The Big Boy tournament also presented the opportunity to reunite old high school teammates and friends.

“Some of these kids went to high school together, whether it was Warren Central or Vicksburg,” Victory Gilliam, the program director at the Kings Center said. “There’s some talent out there and it’s good to see them come back and play ball.”

The tournament started Sunday afternoon and featured six teams in a double elimination style bracket.

The championship game was scheduled for late Sunday, between Dem Boyz and the All Stars, but was ruled a no contest and postponed until a later date.

Both Gilliam and Prentiss went to Warren Central and wanted to figure out a way to give back to the community they care about.

Prentiss has been involved in the Kings Empowerment Center for more than 50 years and said the tournament is one of the many ways in which the Center gives back to the community.

“Our profits and funds are strictly from donations and grants,” Prentiss said. “Throughout our summer camps, our basketball tournaments are our most popular events. It’s a great turnout every year.”

Both Prentiss and Gilliam said that they’ve seen an increase in funds and attendance in their basketball tournaments every year, and the Big Boy tournament seems to be their biggest one yet.

Gilliam graduated from Warren Central in 1979 and was a two-sport athlete, playing football and basketball. As a basketball fan, Gilliam wanted to give children a chance to play the game he loves and raise money for a good cause.

“It’s the best of both worlds for me,” Gilliam said. “I’ve seen kids improve greatly over summer camps and tournaments and I’ve helped build a foundation for this center. It means a lot.”

The Big Boy basketball tournament not only brought excitement and joy for the players participating in it, but to Gilliam as well.

“It’s a passion for me,” Gilliam said. “Being around the game of basketball and helping these kids means a lot.”