It's not just a tournament....

15U GymRat CHALLENGE MVP JUDSON MARTINDALE pulls back the hammer to finish the break for BABC during Championship Round action . Iona and Columbia are among those showing early attention in the versatile and athletic MARTINDALE. Click here to learn how to view the entire list of ALL-GymRat selections through your GymRat RECRUITING INDEX ENHANCED Profile. (Bob Goo, GymRat CHALLENGE, photo)

For over 20 years, the GymRat CHALLENGE has been widely regarded as one of the most unique and respected high exposure basketball events in the United States. This is why teams from MIAMI to MONTREAL are already locked in to compete in the 2018 GymRat CHALLENGE. The GymRat CHALLENGE is much more than a tournament....IT'S AN EVENT. Highlighted below are some of the in-event and post-event services and experiences provided at the GymRat CHALLENGE that are unmatched anywhere else in the nation.

Out of thousands of grassroots basketball events across the country, USA Basketball has selected the GymRat CHALLENGE as one of only 16 events nationally that will be an Official Qualifier for the USA Basketball U.S. Open Basketball Championships. This unique endorsement is a testament to the quality and reputation of the GymRat CHALLENGE.

Based in Colorado Springs, CO, USA Basketball is the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and licensing, and safety. For more information on the USA Basketball U.S. Open Basketball Championships, please visit https://www.usab.com/youth/us-open-basketball-championships.aspx

The GymRat CHALLENGE is the only event in the nation that creates RECRUITING PROFILES for ALL players competing in the event. Those profiles are contained in a system known as the GymRat RECRUITING INDEX where they can be searched by college coaches and evaluators across the country year-round. The GymRat RECRUITING INDEX is the most targeted and effective basketball recruiting profile service in the nation.

Also available to college coaches throughout the nation through the GymRat RECRUITING INDEX, is the annual GymRat Report. This comprehensive 50+ page report details ALL-GymRat performers and event highlights for all Age Divisions of the GymRat CHALLENGE. The GymRat Report is prepared by the 70+ person GymRat Evaluation Staff that is on-site throughout all GymRat events. The Evaluation Staff is comprised of expert current and former professional, college, and high school coaches, professional players, and media members.

Soon to come enhancements to the GymRat RECRUITING INDEX include real-time access to the GymRat Advisory Board of former college coaches and players for purposes of evaluation and high-credibility feedback from those who have spent careers in the recruiting process. In addition, a Measurables section is being developed for player profiles. This section will provide college coaches, players, and parents with comparative, measurable athletic data on all players.

No event in the nation does more to highlight outstanding performances and rising players and programs than the GymRat CHALLENGE. This is among the reasons why more players are recruited out of the GymRat CHALLENGE than any event in the country.

Albany's brand new Capital Center will play host to the 2018 GymRat CHALLENGE 17U Age Division

An extensive economic impact study conducted at the beginning of 2017 by one of the most respected economic development firms in America concluded that the GymRat CHALLENGE provides an annual impact of over $19.6 million for its host economy with over 22,000 people traveling to New York State's Capital District to attend the largest event of its kind in the eastern United States . As a result, the GymRat CHALLENGE has unique access to outstanding new host facilities. The GymRat CHALLENGE utilizes only the highest quality competition venues. NO high school facilities will be used as host venues for the GymRat CHALLENGE. A complete list of competition venues for the 2018 BOYS GymRat CHALLENGE (May 26-27, 2018) can be found at http://gymratchallenge.com/boys-event/game-sites-directions/ .

RPI's East Campus Arena will be a 17U Age Division venue at the 2018 GymRat CHALLENGE

The GymRat CHALLENGE annually plays host to the BIG EAST as the most storied conference in college basketball history utilizes the largest basketball event in the eastern United States as a platform to evaluate prospective referees for potential BIG EAST contracts.

BIG EAST Supervisor of Officials John Cahill has invited highly regarded officials from thr oughout the c ountry to the GymRat CHALLENGE to be a part of the BIG EAST's REFEREE PROSPECTS CAMP. The camp will run in conjunction with one of the most visible and competitive basketball events in the nation during the annual GymRat CHALLENGE. During the event, Cahill and his staff will evaluate these highly touted officials during game action as they officiate some of the top club basketball programs in the country.

"John Cahill is one of the most respected and accomplished referees in the history of college basketball" commented GymRat CHALLENGE Executive Director, John Kmack "We were very pleased to partner with John and the BIG EAST. The ability to partner with someone as accomplished and widely-respected as John Cahill and an entity as storied as the BIG EAST Conference is a great honor for the GymRat CHALLENGE and speaks volumes about both the quality and reputation of the event."

Cahill, who took on the role of BIG EAST Supervisor in 2013 after 40 years as a game official, is basketball referring royalty. Cahill was


	John Cahill was worked a record seven NCAA Championship Games and eleven Final Fours

assigned to 20 consecutive NCAA DIVISION I tournaments.from 1993 to 2012. In 2007, he received the prestigious Naismith Award as the top basketball official in the country. In addition, Cahill has officiated eleven Final Fours and ranks first all time in being assigned to seven NCAA Championship Games, including the 2012 title game that featured Louisville and Michigan.

"I first became aware of the GymRat CHALLENGE when my son (John, Jr. who later played at Boston College) participated in it", said Cahill. "I was immediately impressed with how well the event was run and the quality of talent that it attracted. When we started to evaluate events to host the Prospects Camp, the GymRat CHALLENGE was the first event that came to mind for both me and my son. I really think that this is a match made in Heaven that will prove to be beneficial for both the BIG EAST CONFERENCE and the GymRat CHALLENGE."

The GymRat CHALLENGE has signed a three year contract with BallerTV to provide exclusive live streaming of all GymRat CHALLENGE games beginning with the 2018 event. BallerTV will live stream every game at every Age Division of the GymRat CHALLENGE in order to allow fans and college coaches across the nation the opportunity to view the GymRat CHALLENGE in real-time, as well as to allow players, coaches, and parents to have access to game footage during and after the event. In addition, BallerTV's exclusive technology will integrate with the GymRat CHALLENGE's social media platforms in order to provide a video highlight package at the conclusion of each game. Game highlights will immediately appear on the GymRat CHALLENGE's twitter feed (@GymRatCHALLENGE) along with interviews to shine a spotlight on top individual and team performers.

TO VIEW POST EVENT REPORTS & ALL-GymRat SELECTIONS (PLAYERS, PARENTS, COLLEGE COACHES)

After each GymRat event, a post-event report is prepare by the GymRat CHALLENGE Evaluation Staff that is comprised of expert current and former professional, college, and high school coaches, professional players, and media members. That 40+ page report contains event highlights as well ALL-GymRat selections and player evaluations in all Age Divisions for one of the nation's biggest and most competitive basketball events. The GymRat Report is distributed to every college program in the United States (Division I, II, III). The report is also available to players and parents through each player's GymRat RECRUITING PROFILE (ENHANCED PROFILES only). To view the GymRat Report:

Log into your GymRat account at https://gymratchallenge.com/gymrat/login/login.html
Once you've logged in,:
- FOR PLAYERS & PARENTS click on the MY PROFILES link in the blue navigation bar on the left-hand side of the screen. Only ENHANCED PROFILE users have access to EVENT REPORTS. To upgrade to an ENHANCED PROFILE

- FOR COLLEGE COACHES click on the MY PROGRAMS link in the blue navigation bar on the left-hand side of the screen.