Mayors ​‘Hoop It Up’ For Youth

Mayor Toni Harp didn’t hesitate to show Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra that she’s got game.

Segarra showed off his jump shot and scored two points. Then Harp went for the classic, two-hand, granny shot and put two in the hole for New Haven.

And the crowd went wild.

The two will settle the score later this month, though Segarra (pictured) conceded before the shootout that Harp ​“plays a little bit better basketball than me.”

The mayors played a little one-on-one at City Hall Tuesday to announce that the two cities are partnering for the upcoming second annual youth-oriented ​“Hoop It Up” tournament, which returns to Church Street on July 25. (Learn how to register here.)

This is the second year that the city’s youth department has brought the national, weekend-long, three-on-three competition to the city to give young people something positive to do during the summer. (Read about last year’s event here.) This year’s event features a concerted effort to involve teens from Hartford and New Haven.

Harp said she’s looking forward to a bit of ​“friendly, spirited competition” between the two cities that are daily battling against the ravages of youth violence.This will be the first year that the two cities work together to provide a weekend of activities aimed at youth in New Haven and Hartford.

City Youth Department Director Jason Bartlett called the collaboration between the two cities historic.

“Having these two big cities work together on behalf of youth and provide positive opportunities and support is a great thing,” he said.

The weekend will feature not only the traditional basketball tournament on Saturday and Sunday in New Haven, but a drill competition and a celebrity basketball game and book signing in Hartford on July 24. The tournament finale, which will be held in New Haven on Sunday, will be broadcast statewide by CPTV.

Bartlett said young New Haveners who want to attend the events in Hartford will be transported by charter bus at no cost to them. Those interested can get more information from the Youth Department, and any of the city’s summer camp programs.

Bartlett also said that if you are a resident of New Haven or Hartford between the ages of 8 and early 20s, entry into the tournament is free.

Any New Haven teams that win their division in the tournament will be transported to the national Hoop It Up tournament, which will be held in Atlantic City next year. The city is able to foot the bill with the help of sponsorships and some city money.

Segarra said there is already a buzz in Hartford about the event. he said he hopes that it helps foster a stronger sister city relationship between the two cities.

“We have similar challenges and opportunities to get our youth active and playing some basketball,” he said.