The Annual ACES Hustle & Heart Classic Returns to New York City on October 26
They don’t call it Mecca for nothing. New York City has always been the heartbeat of hoops. Culture, kicks, fashion. It all ties back to the game no matter what situation you’re in. With all eyes on the city that just brought home its first WNBA Championship, the ACES Hustle & Heart Classic is here to spice things up.
At the forefront of hoops and youth athletic development, ACES has evolved into a platform that influences all aspects of the game, from grassroots to professional. The numbers speak for themselves: 30-plus NBA and WNBA players and 100 Division 1 hoopers all dropped buckets at the Classic. But this weekend is for the kids who dream of getting there.
In its third annual edition, the Hustle & Heart Classic brings together top high school hoopers on the national stage. Kiyan Anthony, Kayden and Dylan Mingo and Warren Keel lead the boys’ show while the girls’ show features Mya and Mia Pauldo and the NJ Crusaders and Jordyn Jackson leading the DC Crimson Warriors.
Preseason action is just the start of the high school basketball season, but the Hustle & Heart Classic provides the nation’s top prospects with a variety of opening programs spanning sports, entertainment and the corporate world.
“ACES was born from the grassroots of basketball, achieving cross-cultural relevance by allowing athletes to tell their stories, connect with cultures, while uniting local communities through our annual events,” said founder and CEO Brian Kortovich. “AECS continually attracts the nation’s top high school athletes to New York City and empowers them with a platform to showcase their talents on a national level, share their stories and expand their opportunities.”
ACES will host a media day for all four teams on Friday, October 25 with a focus group featuring NBPA executives, followed by the Girls and Boys National Showcase at Elmcor Gym in Queens on Saturday, October 26. The Girls National Showcase tips off at 5 pm and NJ Crusaders take on the DC Crimson Warriors. The Boys National Showcase will follow at 7 p.m. when the Long Island Crusaders take on the Putnam Science Mustangs.
If you can’t make it to the games, you can catch all the action on the NBA app this year as the official broadcast partner of the 2024 ACES Heart & Hustle Classic.
ACES Pictures.
