Hoops at Home returns for 5th year to showcase sports and gaming community
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 20, 2024) — The University of Kentucky and global gaming and esports organization Gen.G announced the return of their highly anticipated online only, open to all NBA 2K tournament, Hoops at Home, now in its 5th year. Originally launched in 2020 for UK students to stay connected during the COVID pandemic, Hoops at Home has quickly become a popular mainstay for the school and has developed into a pillar of the university’s esports program.
“UK’s Big Blue Nation defines premier basketball heritage, and we encourage anyone who wants to be involved in the overall community of video gameplay to participate in Hoops at Home,” said Heath Price, AVP for partnerships at UK. “We have a broad community full of varying interests when it comes to video games and sports across the Commonwealth, and we want to continue to offer opportunities for Big Blue Nation fans anywhere a chance to engage with us.”
The tournament will have UK-based broadcast talent calling the matches, including Trenton Upchurch and three-time winner of Hoops at Home, YouTuber and Twitch Streamer, Tydebo.
“Gen.G is all about connecting communities through gaming, and Hoops at Home delivers on that mission,” said Chief Revenue Officer at Gen.G, Martin Kim. “Sports and video games have been synonymous for years; it’s deeply satisfying to be able to give back to this ecosystem.”
Sign ups are live at this link now through Feb. 22. The tournament will take place on Feb. 24 at noon ET. Everyone is invited to watch the action on the UK Twitch page. Hoops at Home requires that competitors have a copy of the NBA 2K24 game on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S. You will also need the ability to stream your gameplay with a stable internet connection.
About Gen.G
United as #TigerNation, Gen.G's core mission is to leverage gaming and esports for success in and beyond competition. Emphasizing education, DEI initiatives, and innovative partnerships, Gen.G is a global thought leader fostering an inclusive future for gaming. Its diverse portfolio includes League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), Gen.G Mobil1 Racing & Gen.G Mobil 1 Racing Black Rocket League teams, Gen.G VALORANT, Gen.G PUBG, and NBA2K’s Gen.G Tigers.
Gen.G has also attracted non-endemic brands like Crocs, Manchester City F.C., McDonald’s, Burberry, BOSE, Mobil1, and Procter & Gamble into gaming, breaking barriers and expanding audiences. Operating from offices in Los Angeles, Seoul, and Shanghai, Gen.G's impact extends through teams, content creators, and its groundbreaking Gen.G Global Academy. Learn more at GenG.gg or follow Gen.G Esports on X @GenG.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.