In early 2008, Times Picayune sports writer Pierce Huff came up with the idea to hold a New Orleans city-wide youth basketball tournament. The goal of the tournament was to provide local youth basketball players the chance to participate in a city-wide event at the New Orleans Arena.

New Orleans City Councilman-at-large Arnie Fielkow brought the idea to the attention of the local school systems(Recovery School District, Orleans Parish School Board and the Algiers Charter Schools Association), the New Orleans Hornets, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the New Orleans Arena and the New Orleans Recreation Department. Over the course of several meetings in spring 2008, the concept evolved to incorporate the city-wide youth basketball tournament with service learning projects during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend in 2009. The purpose of partnering with the MLK holiday was to include both community service and educational pieces into the basketball tournament format in order to honor Dr. King through wholesome competition.

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Rise above the goal - Sun 1.18.09
Over 600 kids, from NORD, junior high and high school boys and girls teams will compete in games at McDonough 35, Newman, Ben Franklin & O. Perry Walker high school facilities, starting at 2pm Sunday January 18. Dr. Martin Luther King educational pieces will be conducted by leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference at each facility. Tickets will be available at the door.

March to the Dream - MON 1.19.09
10:00AM, Armstrong Park – All participating teams will take part in the annual Martin Luther King Day March to the Louisiana Superdome.

Noon, Louisiana Superdome – All marchers, teams and general public, are invited to the Dome for a special Dr. Martin Luther King Day event featuring music, video and civil rights speakers. Free Admission.