The Ball Don’t Stop Pro-Am Classic hits UVic’s CARSA gym on Aug. 8 and 9, marking the first time the marquee summer event lands on Vancouver Island.
Founded in 2014, Ball Don’t Stop has grown into a national summer staple, blending high-level competition with grassroots development and giving Canadian talent a platform to shine alongside seasoned pros.
Last year, the game took place in Vancouver and Toronto.
Victoria's 2025 edition is presented by The Grind Basketball Club and the UVic Vikes. The two-day showcase features a full slate of hoops programming, capped by a pro-am game that’s expected to feature some of the biggest names in the sport.
“Last year, you had guys like Norman Powell, Chris Boucher, Shaedon Sharpe, Bones Hyland,” said Terrell Evans, co-organizer and assistant coach with the UVic men’s basketball team. “This year, you might see a sixth man of the year, an MVP, and a recent NBA champion.”
The official lineup drops in early July.
Victoria’s weekend will include youth training camps, a Canadian high school all-star game, and the main attraction: a pro-am showdown featuring a mix of NBA players, international pros, and rising stars.
“This is going to be a huge mid-summer event,” Evans said. “We’ve been working toward this for a long time, and to see it coming together now – it’s just so exciting.”
Evans launched The Grind eight years ago to create elite opportunities for young B.C. athletes. The program now competes across the province and the U.S., drawing talent from Vancouver Island and beyond.
A former UVic player who went pro in Austria and Italy, Evans sees the Pro-Am as a natural extension of that mission.
“The whole idea was just to give back,” he said. “I always told myself I’d do whatever I could to help continue the legacy of this sport. And now we’re seeing it – kids going to college, playing all over Canada and the U.S.”
Among them is UVic standout Ethan Boag, who regularly trains younger athletes and will suit up in the Pro-Am game alongside other Vikes still to be announced.
“Vancouver Island’s only so big,” Evans said. “But when a young kid can talk to someone who’s played college ball – someone from the same place – that’s powerful.”
Evans expects a sell-out, with CARSA transformed into a buzzing hub of high-level competition and development. Ticket info is available at www.balldontstop.com/pro-am.
Youth camps, led by NBA players and elite coaches, run throughout both days.
“This isn’t a camp where you show up, get an autograph, and leave,” Evans said. “It’s a real two-and-a-half-hour workout. You’re going to learn – and then you get to watch some of the best in the world compete on that same floor.”
He credited the support of UVic – particularly head coach Murphy Burnatowski – with helping bring the event to life. Talks began last year, but a coaching transition caused a slight delay.
"We are trying to build something special here at UVic," Evans said. "This is about inspiring kids for the next generation, and showing these kids that playing basketball on the Island can be a real great opportunity."
Now, fresh off a U SPORTS national title, Evans said the timing couldn’t be better.
“The momentum is real,” he said. “It’s the right time for something like this. And Victoria deserves it.”
His final message to fans?
“If you’re not there, I don’t know where else you’re gonna be in the city.”
