Paradise Jam Tournament
 | |
| Sport | College basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 (women's), 2001 (men's) |
| Founder | Basketball Travelers, Inc. |
| No. of teams | 8 men's teams, 8 women's teams |
| Country | United States |
| Venue(s) | Vines Center, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, United States |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Men Colorado Women Syracuse (Reef) Women West Virginia (Island) |
| TV partner(s) | CBS Sports Network, SNY |
| Official website | Paradise Jam |
The U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam is a preseason college basketball tournament that takes place in late November of each year, with the men usually playing the week before Thanksgiving and the women playing Thanksgiving week. It normally takes place in St. Thomas at the Sports and Fitness Center on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands. The 2017 men's and women's tournaments were moved to the U.S. mainland due to heavy damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The tournament organizers decided to solicit hosting bids from all participating teams in both tournaments, with each tournament intended to be hosted by a school in that specific event.[1][2] The substitute venue for the 2017 men's tournament was Vines Center at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.[3] The 2017 women's edition used two different venues, with the Reef division at the Charles E. Smith Center on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and the Island division at the neutral Titan Field House at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida, presumably after no school in the Island division submitted a bid.[4]
Colorado is the defending men's champion. Syracuse and West Virginia are the defending women's champions in the Reef and Island divisions, respectively.
Format
The tournament began in 2000 as a women's tournament. In 2001 a men's tournament was added and both have been played every year since 2001. In its current format both tournaments feature eight teams playing three games.
Men's format
The men's tournament was introduced in 2001 with a six-team, three-game format. In 2006, the tournament was expanded to eight teams playing in a predetermined bracket. All teams play three games with the final day's games determining placement in all positions, first through eighth.
Women's format
The original women's format was a six-team tournament with teams divided into two groups of three for a round-robin competition. Group standings following the conclusion of the three games decided the entrants to the fifth-place, third-place, and championship games. In 2001, the women's tournament was altered to include three divisions - St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The following year the St. Croix division was dropped leaving two divisions. Over the years the women's tournament has featured anywhere from six to 10 teams. In 2008, the format was altered to its current form, featuring the Reef and Island divisions with four teams playing in each division. All teams play three games with the final day's games determining placement in all positions, first through fourth in each division.
Past tournaments
Men's tournament
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Score | Tournament MVP | All-Tournament Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Miami | Clemson | 67–65 | John Salmons, Miami | Ricky Cottrill, Eastern Michigan Eric Bush, UAB Rasual Butler, LaSalle Chris Hobbs, Clemson Darius Rice, Miami |
| 2002 | BYU | St. Bonaventure | 66–57 | Marques Green, St. Bonaventure | Mark Bigelow, BYU Travis Hansen, BYU Nick Moore, Toledo Pervis Pasco, Kansas St. Terry Taylor, Virginia Tech |
| 2003 | Boston College | Wichita State | 84–81 | Craig Smith, Boston College | Uka Agbai, Boston College Devin Green, Hampton Blake Hamilton, Monmouth Jamar Howard, Wichita State Rob Kampman, Wichita State |
| 2004 | Arkansas | Eastern Michigan | 82–64 | Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas | Eric Ferguson, Arkansas John Bowler, Eastern Michigan Craig Bradshaw, Winthrop Zac Schlader, Austin Peay Izik Ohanon, Saint Louis |
| 2005 | Wisconsin | Old Dominion | 84–81 | Alando Tucker, Wisconsin | Bryant Dunston, Fordham Alonzo Hird, Eastern Kentucky Mike Mercer, Georgia Alex Loughton, Old Dominion Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin |
| 2006 | Alabama | Xavier | 63–56 | Alonzo Gee, Alabama | Justin Ingram, Toledo Tyler Smith, Iowa Curtis Sumpter, Villanova Stanley Burrell, Xavier Ronald Steele, Alabama |
| 2007 | Baylor | Winthrop | 62–54 | Curtis Jerrells, Baylor | Aaron Bruce, Baylor Luke Harangody, Notre Dame Taj McCullough, Winthrop Jeremis Smith, Georgia Tech Jhamar Youngblood, Monmouth |
| 2008 | UConn | Wisconsin | 76–57 | Hasheem Thabeet, UConn | Jerome Dyson, UConn Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin Jack McClinton, Miami Kemba Walker, UConn Jeremy Wise, Southern Miss |
| 2009 | Purdue | Tennessee | 73–72 | E’Twaun Moore, Purdue | Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Northern Iowa Will Walker, DePaul Robbie Hummel, Purdue Wayne Chism, Tennessee Tyler Smith, Tennessee |
| 2010 | Old Dominion | Xavier | 67–58 | Ben Finney, Old Dominion | Jeff Robinson, Seton Hall Larry Anderson, Long Beach State Demontez Stitt, Clemson Frank Hassell, Old Dominion Tu Holloway, Xavier |
| 2011 | Marquette | Norfolk State | 59–57 | Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette | J.R. Cadot, TCU Mike Scott, Virginia Terrance Henry, Ole Miss Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State Jae Crowder, Marquette |
| 2012 | New Mexico | UConn | 66–60 | Kendall Williams, New Mexico | Sherrod Wright, George Mason Lamont Jones, Iona Shabazz Napier, UConn Ryan Boatright, UConn Tony Snell, New Mexico |
| 2013 | Maryland | Providence | 56–52 | Dez Wells, Maryland | Evan Smotrycz, Maryland Ian Chiles, Morgan St. Tyler Harris, Providence Nate Buss, Northern Iowa Anthony Ireland, Loyola Marymount |
| 2014 | Seton Hall | Illinois State | 84–80 | Sterling Gibbs, Seton Hall | Damarcus Harrison, Clemson Jordan Mickey, LSU Trey Freeman, Old Dominion DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell Jr., Illinois St. Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall |
| 2015 | South Carolina | Tulsa | 83–75 | Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina | Dwayne Bacon, Florida State Juan’ya Green, Hofstra Khristian Smith, Indiana State Shaquille Harrison, Tulsa Mindaugas Kacinas, South Carolina |
| 2016 | Creighton | Mississippi | 86–77 | Marcus Foster, Creighton | Cole Huff, Creighton Deandre Burnett, Mississippi Josh Hawkinson, Washington State Aundre Jackson, Loyola Dennis Smith Jr., N.C. State |
| 2017 | Colorado | Mercer | 79–70 | McKinley Wright, Colorado |
Women's tournament
| Year | Division | Champion | Runner-Up | MVP | All Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | N/A | Texas Tech | Southwest Missouri State | Jackie Stiles, Southwest Missouri State | N/A |
| 2001 | St. Thomas | Texas | USC | Stacy Stephens, Texas | N/A |
| St. John | Arizona State | Kansas State | Amanda Levens, Arizona State | N/A | |
| St. Croix | Florida State | Saint Mary’s | Shinikki Whiting, Florida State | N/A | |
| 2002 | St. Thomas | South Carolina | Boston College | Jocelyn Penn, South Carolina | Cristina Ciocan, South Carolina Jessalyn Deveny, Boston College Becky Gottstein, Boston College Petra Ujhelyi South Carolina Shaquala Williams, Oregon |
| St. John | Duke | Arkansas | Alana Beard, Duke | Shameka Christon, Arkansas LaShondra Dixon, Hampton Okeisha Howard, Old Dominion India Lewis, Arkansas Iciss Tillis, Duke | |
| 2003 | St. Thomas | Virginia Tech | Mississippi State | Carrie Mason, Virginia Tech | Tiania Burns, Mississippi State Jenny DeMuth, Indiana Lisa Kriener, Iowa State Ieva Kublina, Virginia Tech Tan White, Mississippi State |
| St. John | Southwest Missouri State | West Virginia | Kari Koch, Southwest Missouri State | Kate Bulger, West Virginia Lesley Dickinson, James Madison Jenni Lingor, Southwest Missouri State Alex Stewart, Georgia Tech Fallon Stokes, Georgia Tech | |
| 2004 | St. Thomas | North Carolina State | Louisville | Tiffany Stansbury, North Carolina State | Marquetta Dickens, North Carolina State Jazz Covington, Louisville Missy Taylor, Louisville Rachael Butler, Hampton Kiera Hardy, Nebraska |
| St. John | Rutgers | Kentucky | Michelle Campbell, Rutgers | Chelsea Newton, Rutgers Matee Ajavon, Rutgers Sara Potts, Kentucky Shannon Howell, Oregon State Shannon Schlagel, South Dakota State | |
| 2005 | St. Thomas | Minnesota | Virginia | Jamie Broback, Minnesota | Tiffany Sardin, Virginia Liz Podominick, Minnesota Denesha Kenion, Virginia Lauren Hill, Alabama Dellena Criner, Nevada |
| St. John | Tennessee | Maryland | Candace Parker, Tennessee | Shanna Zolman, Tennessee Crystal Langhorne, Maryland Marissa Coleman, Maryland Lindsay Bowen, Michigan State Stephanie Hawk, Gonzaga | |
| 2006 | St. Thomas | Arizona State & Rutgers‡ ‡In 2006, the final game was cancelled due to a family tragedy involving a family member of one of the Arizona State players.[5] |
N/A | Amanda Brown, Penn State Essence Carson, Rutgers Briann January, Arizona State Crystal Kelly, Western Kentucky Kia Vaughn, Rutgers Emily Westerberg, Arizona State | |
| St. John | Marquette | Xavier | Christina Quaye, Marquette | DeWanna Bonner, Auburn Krystal Ellis, Marquette Miranda Green, Xavier Amber Harris, Xavier Carrie Moore, Western Michigan | |
| 2007 | St. Thomas | UConn | Duke | Maya Moore, UConn | Chante Black, Duke Tina Charles, UConn T.J. Jordan, Old Dominion Ashley Morris, Temple Candice Wiggins, Stanford |
| St. John | Wake Forest | Texas A&M | Alex Tchangoue, Wake Forest | Jamie Braun, Indiana Corinne Groves, Wake Forest Danielle Gant, Texas A&M Takia Starks, Texas A&M Kiki Stephens, Wichita State | |
| 2008 | Reef | California | South Florida | Ashley Walker, California | Shantia Grace, South Florida Alexis Gray-Lawson, California Wendy Ausdemore, Iowa Lauren Grief, California Dominic Seals, Texas Tech |
| Island | Wisconsin | Baylor | Alyssa Karel, Wisconsin | Rachel Allison, Baylor Rae Lin D’Alie, Wisconsin D’Nay Daniels, Central Florida Danielle Wilson, Baylor Laura Kurz, Villanova | |
| 2009 | Reef | Rutgers | Southern Calif. | Brittany Ray, Rutgers | Chelsey Lee, Rutgers Brittainey Raven, Texas Kathleen Nash, Texas Ashley Corral, Southern Calif. Armelie Lumanu, Mississippi State |
| Island | Notre Dame | Oklahoma | Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame | Danielle Robinson, Oklahoma Amanda Thompson, Oklahoma Valerie Nainima, South Carolina Melissa Lechlitner, Notre Dame Jené Morris, San Diego State | |
| 2010 | Reef | Georgetown | Tennessee | Summer Rodgers, Georgetown | Monica McNutt, Georgetown Glory Johnson, Tennessee Meighan Simmons, Tennessee Alex Montgomery, Georgia Tech Raeshara Brown, Missouri |
| Island | West Virginia | Iowa State | Liz Rapella, West Virginia | Madina Ali, West Virginia Kelsey Bolte, Iowa State Helena Sverrisdottir, TCU Chelsea Shine, Virginia | |
| 2011 | Reef | Michigan | Washington State | Courtney Boylan, Michigan | Jeanette Jackson, Prairie View A&M Katherine Plouffe, Marquette Ashley Cook, Washington State Jenny Ryan, Michigan |
| Island | Alabama | Seton Hall | Ericka Russell, Alabama | Tia Lewis, Old Dominion Kiara Young, Louisiana Tech Jasmine Crew, Seton Hall Jasmine Robinson, Alabama | |
| 2012 | Reef | South Carolina | DePaul | Aleighsa Welch, South Carolina | Sarah Hansen, Florida Gulf Coast Nicole Hamilton, Hampton Brittany Hrynko, DePaul Ashley Bruner, South Carolina |
| Island | UConn | Purdue | Breanna Stewart, UConn | Elizabeth Beynnon, Marist Sandra Garcia, Wake Forest Courtney Moses, Purdue Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn | |
| 2013 | Reef | Syracuse | Texas | Brianna Butler, Syracuse | Brittney Sykes, Syracuse Courtney Walker, Texas A&M Brady Sanders, Texas Ariel Hearn, Memphis |
| Island | Duke | Kansas | Tricia Liston, Duke | Elizabeth Williams, Duke Cece Harper, Kansas Niki Diguilio, Central Michigan Shatyra Hawkes, Xavier | |
| 2014 | Reef | Kentucky | South Florida | Makayla Epps, Kentucky | Jennifer O’Neill, Kentucky Courtney Williams, South Florida Ivory Crawford, Illinois Sharane Campbell-Olds, Oklahoma |
| Island | Florida Gulf Coast | Wichita State | Whitney Knight, Florida Gulf Coast | Jenna Cobb, Florida Gulf Coast Nikki Dixon, Clemson Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State Alex Harden, Wichita State | |
| 2015 | Reef | Maryland | South Dakota State | Brionna Jones, Maryland | Kerri Young, South Dakota State Macy Miller, South Dakota State Aysia Bugg, Pittsburgh Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Maryland |
| Island | Rutgers | Green Bay | Kahleah Copper, Rutgers | Lauren Moses, Virginia Kolby Morgan, Tulane Kaili Lukan, Green Bay Tyler Scaife, Rutgers | |
| 2016 | Reef | Florida State | Michigan | Leticia Romero, Florida State[6] | Shakayla Thomas, Florida State[6]
Katlelyn Flaherty, Michigan[6] Hallie Thome, Michigan[6] Jill Barta, Gonzaga[6] |
| Island | Kansas State | UTEP | Kindred Wesemann, Kansas State[6] | Breanna Lewis, Kansas State[6]
Raigyne Moncrief, LSU[6] | |
| 2017 | Reef | Syracuse[7] | Vanderbilt | Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse[8] | Cayla McMorris, Wisconsin[9]
Rachel Bell, Vanderbilt[10] Kelli Prange, George Washington[11] Miranda Drummond, Syracuse[12] |
| Island | West Virginia[13] | Virginia Tech | Teanna Muldrow, West Virginia[14] | Aubree Brown, Drexel[15]
Tori Schickel, Butler[15] Taylor Emery, Virginia Tech[15] Chania Ray, West Virginia[15] | |
References
- ↑ "Storm damage forces Paradise Jam from Virgin Islands; host site to be named next week". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ↑ "Paradise Jam Relocated" (Press release). Basketball Travelers, Inc. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ↑ "Men's 2017 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Relocated to Liberty University" (Press release). Basketball Travelers, Inc. September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
- ↑ "Women's 2017 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Sites Selected" (Press release). Basketball Travelers, Inc. October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ↑ "2006 Paradise Jam – Women". Retrieved 27 Dec 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gardner, James (2016-11-27). "Kansas State, FSU Win Paradise Jam Women's Tourney". St. Croix Source. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ↑ "Syracuse Women's Basketball Wins Paradise Jam Reef Division". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
- ↑ "Syracuse women's basketball sweeps Paradise Jam by beating George Washington". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ↑ "Badgers sink Commodores in overtime". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ↑ "Women's Basketball Heads to Saint Louis". Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ↑ "Colonial of the Week Presented by Capgemini: Kelli Prange". Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ↑ "Orange Host Northwestern For B1G/ACC Challenge". Cuse. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ↑ "Mountaineers Down Hokies at Paradise Jam - West Virginia University". West Virginia University. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
- ↑ "Mountaineers Down Hokies at Paradise Jam - West Virginia University". West Virginia University. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
- 1 2 3 4 "West Virginia wins the Paradise Jam title at EFSC". EFSC Titans. 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
External links
Coordinates: 18°20′24″N 64°58′23″W / 18.340096°N 64.97306°W