By Alexandra Salerno
Editor-in-Chief
Five business students will host a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in honor of John J. Watson tomorrow in the Reilly Center.
As members of marketing professor Michael Russell’s event and sponsorship marketing class, juniors James Reed, Mike Iulianello, Justin Walker and Taylor Lang and senior Zach Clark had to brainstorm and implement an event. The five students chose to honor Watson’s memory.
“When Dr. Russell heard about our idea, he was ecstatic that we wanted to honor one of his colleagues,” said Iulianello, a marketing major. “We got such support from the business faculty.”
Watson, professor of marketing, died unexpectedly in May at 45 years old. Watson played basketball for Bucknell University where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1988 and master’s degree in 1989. Following graduation, he played basketball professionally in Ireland and England from 1989 to 1991. He was also a former coach, owner and president of the Canterbury Rams in the New Zealand National Basketball League and was named Coach of the Year in 2002.
Reed, a finance and marketing major, hopes people who don’t participate in the tournament still support the cause by watching the event.
“Part of the reason we wanted it in the Reilly Center is so people can come watch,” Reed said.
As part of their class requirement, Reed and his group members were eager to find sponsorship for the event.
“I had a chance to make the phone calls and try to get sponsorships and it was nice to be rewarded by sponsors wanting to help out,” Reed said.
Clark, a management and marketing major, said it wasn’t difficult finding sponsorship.
“Some of the sponsors said they wanted to donate especially because it was in honor of John Watson,” Clark said.
The Iroquois Group, headquartered in Allegany, is the tournament’s corporate sponsor.
The group chose to donate proceeds from the tournament to the Chris Dudley Foundation. The foundation, founded by former NBA player Chris Dudley, raises awareness for diabetes and helps those living with diabetes to pursue an active lifestyle. The Watson family has previously worked with the foundation, as Watson’s son Noah has diabetes.
Watson’s wife, Leslie Raymore Watson, and four children, John, Noah, Stephen and Elizabeth, will volunteer at tomorrow’s event.
“We picked the charity because it’s really close to the Watson family,” said Reed.
To enter the 3-on-3 tournament, players can have a maximum of five members per team. Teams can register at the event, if they have not already pre-registered.
Registration beings at 10 a.m. The opening ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
