The best of the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand's top basketball players will be showcased and celebrated in Tauranga this long weekend as a new high profile sporting event sets up camp here.

HoopNation tips off at ASB Arena – hosting some of the nation's best Basketball talent, including players from the Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns, the full Junior Tall Blacks and Junior Tall Fern squads and ex- Breakers – this Saturday to Labour Monday.

Paul Berridge and KJ Allen of Akiwa Events have brought HoopNation to the Bay from its previous base in Whanganui because of the event's continual growth.

'The support of the council, who are future-focused, the world class ASB Baypark Arena, and the huge infrastructure of the city is a game-changer for the next phase of the event's growth,” says KJ.

'And the region and what it has to offer in terms of recreation activities for the players outside of the tournament has been key too,” says Paul.

'With a growing international influence we're not only showcasing the event through livestreaming but the city and region to international markets of this beautiful area as well,” says Paul, who is a new Bay resident.

He says 51 teams – including three Bay squads - have signed up for the three-day event, which starts Saturday October 22, 9am.

'We've got men's elite, women's elite, men's A league, social men's and women's, and Under-17 boys' and Under-17 girls' divisions.

'We have a 42 per cent increase from last year's participants,” says KJ. 'So that shows you with the relocation of the event there is growth and the opportunity to make it bigger,” says Paul.

'As well as top national athletes playing, we've also got players coming from Australian, Japan and Nigeria just to play and experience NZ, and for some this is their third trip,” says KJ.

And for the players there's $8000 in prize money to be distributed through the elite an A league divisions.

And there will be big names and bigger talent, showcasing some of New Zealand's best in basketball.

'With the exceptional calibre of talent assembled including some of the Breakers development players the weekend will be guaranteed to be exciting.”

But Paul says it's also about bringing the role models of the sport to town to show youngsters what's possible in a basketball career.

'We want to show some of the youth playing basketball what sort of level of skill they are aspiring to play, and motivating them and showing them the pathway of basketball in NZ.”

'The big finals day on Labour Monday will take place in ASB Arena, with a court surrounded by tiered seating.”

'All in all it will be a great experience for spectators and fans – we're expecting between 3500 and 5000 through the doors during the long weekend.”

And the finals will be livestreamed online.

Extra events include Sunday's official After Party, Friday's combine testing at The Athlete Factory, Mount Maunganui, and two AMElite Hoops Training Clinics at ASB Baypark, with Avi Meyerson trainer to NBA and high performance athletes.

For more information visit HoopNation's website at: www.hoopnation.co.nz