EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The sweet sounds of basketball were all that could be heard around the gymnasium at Nolan Richardson Middle School on Saturday.

The Cliff Tucker Jr. Foundation hosted its first annual Cliff Tucker Jr. Memorial Youth Basketball Tournament.

Saturday marked the second day of the tournament as 18 local youth basketball teams, ranging in grades 6 through 8, showcased their skills on the hardwood floor of Nolan Richardson Middle School.

Saturday also marked the fourth anniversary of the tragic death of Cliff Tucker.

On May 28, 2018, the former Chapin High School and University of Maryland basketball star, his girlfriend, Genesis Soto, and Andrew and Amanda Akaji were tragically killed in a car accident on the I -10.

To this day, Tucker’s legacy on and off the court lives on. The Cliff Tucker Jr. Foundation hosted the Cliff Tucker Jr. Memorial Youth Basketball Tournament this weekend. The event brought joy and competition to those who played and coached them. It’s an event that has a lot of meaning for the Tucker family.

“That day changed our lives. It’s the day of Cliff’s accident. So seeing all of this support, getting all of this support from the whole community, from Fort Bliss to the west side of town, we appreciate all the support we’re getting. said Cliff Tucker’s mother, Regina.

“This is the first youth tournament. We decided to organize this tournament after the Episd [El Paso Independent School District] reached out to us and we said thank you, thank you,” Regina Tucker said. “This is the last year for Dallas. [Tucker] and Destiny, who are Cliff’s children, and that’s the [Middle] the school he graduated from, so we’re very, very happy with what’s happening today.

Cliff Tucker’s son Dallas was also in attendance for the tournament and is playing there as well. The event means a lot to him and sheds new light on Dallas as it relates to his father’s legacy.

“It’s crazy because I really didn’t think so many people knew who he was when he was still around.” said Dallas Tucker. “It’s crazy, like people I’ve never seen in my life know who I am. They treat me like I’ve known them all my life. It’s crazy.

Sunday is the last day of the Cliff Tucker Jr. Memorial Youth Basketball Tournament. There are four league games in store. The college girls championship game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. MT. The Grade 7 Boys Championship will follow at 5:30 PM MT, then the Grade 6 Boys Championship at 6:30 PM MT and finally conclude with the Grade 8 Boys Championship at 8:30 PM MT. You can catch all the action at Nolan Richardson Middle School. Here is the program below: