Tonight, 7 teams are at the City Center for a basketball tournament that is about more than just competition, organizers say it is about community survival. The teams in this first two month round of competition are pulled from a cluster of rival neighborhoods on the southside where violence has been on an upswing. Now organizers hope that the recreational and social opportunities provided by this tournament, along with the memory of one victim of violence, will provide the opportunity to turn hoops into hope.

Alfonso Noble Reporting,
When Arthur "Abs" Crawford was killed on Iguana Street on Saturday January 29th, for many who knew him, it was like the dream of basketball greatness had died. One friend who is determined not to let his memory die is Ray 'Footie' Gongora.

Raymond 'Footie' Gongora,
"The young man Arthur Crawford that was killed, it was a young man that hurt my heart because I watch my self. It is just like that I come up, like play ball but I was from the neighborhood and you know just a fun thing, love it, and he was a man who loved it. When he got hit like that it hurt. I don't who all felt it but I felt it. When I say in memory of him is that don't forget Arthur, don't let Arthur happen again: a talented youth who I know could have gone far just vanish."

Now Gongora has organized the Arthur Crawford basketball tournament to make sure his death provides a life lesson to other youths. Young people like these ones we met today at the youth for the future office who are form rival neighborhoods will come together in the name of basketball and peace.

Steve White,
"For a long time we have been begging for something like this to happen. It is sad that a young boy had to go before something like this jump off. I know he was around he still would want to play same way but we will play in his memory everyday too. Like what everybody is saying its time was keep us off the streets, its just that. We will give it our all in his memory."

And honoring that memory means creating harmony in the hood through hoops:

Clifton Bowen,
"You got Complex, you got Third World, you got Raiders, you got PIV, you got Back A town, Ghost Town, and if you notice all of those names sound like some names which people which think are bad areas but it is not like that. All of us have to come together, keep together, we can't fall away from another you dig."

Darwin Usher,
"But like this now everybody, each set, could put aside their differences to recreate their mind because sometimes the mind needs to recreate you know."

"Like before this tournament here some man were afraid to go into certain areas and thing. Like how we get to know the people through different areas we won't be afraid to walk those areas and thing so this tournament will really bring everybody together and its just basically about peace and unity for everybody from this area."

Clifton Bowen,
"You know who and who have what, when it is time to play the sports all those things are forgotten. When they see the sport is going nice and the friendship develop then they will forget all about those beef."

And for this former semi pro legend, it is all about empowerment through sports.

Ray Gongora,
"The thing is that there are some of them who are real good balers and I encourage and tell them listen up -don't settle for where you are right here on this spot."

With major sponsorship form the Habet group of companies, this is the pilot project. From here it will move onto other southside and northside areas that are crime and violence hotspots. Every week a $50 bonus will be offered to the most disciplined player.