Street baller competition begins in Chicago

PHOTO: Swag Champs Antonio Biglow at the center of the action as he team took on the Kings of LA when the Million Dollar Summer Challenge launched there last weekend. The Chicago games begin Sunday. | PHOTO COURTESY BALLUP

Anyone who’s ever hung around the basketball courts of Chicago parks and playgrounds knows there’s a lot of talent out there beyond our beloved Chicago Bulls.

Well, local streetballers will get their chance to show ’m what they’ve got in the first Million Dollar Summer Challenge.

Put together by BallUp and ESPN, the competition will be going on all summer and teams from six cities — including Chicago, of course — will be playing. The first Chicago game kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday (June 7) at Dunbar High School, 3000 S. King Drive. All games are free and and open to the public.

Among the teams hitting the Dunbar courts are: We Got Game, Team Walker and The Elite.

The competition includes a variety of cash prizes that total $1 million. The games will be televised on ESPN2 beginning in September.

There will be six weekends of regular play. The top six teams will then compete in local playoffs. (Go here for the full schedule and more information.)

That’s a lot of good basketball excitement to share with your family and friends. And did I mention it’s all free?

From there the local top team goes to Los Angeles to compete in the national championships, which begin July 30. Check it out!