Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

The state's largest holiday basketball tournament and the Majerus Family Foundation have formed a new partnership. The Majerus Family Foundation is an organization founded to support athletics, education, medical research and social justice -- four areas dear to legendary basketball coach Rick Majerus and his family.

The Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout, held for the past five seasons at Concordia University in Mequon and featuring many outstanding high school basketball programs in Wisconsin and beyond, and the Majerus Family Foundation will work together in the new Rick Majerus WBY Shootout.

Thirty teams from Wisconsin will participate in the 2015 Rick Majerus WBY Shootout, set for December 28-29-30 at Concordia.

"We are thrilled to partner with Mark Miller and the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook to sponsor the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout," said Jodi Majerus, Rick's sister and President of the Majerus Family Foundation. "Rick loved coaching and sharing the game with young people. The opportunity for high school students to play in such a prestigious event and experience basketball at an entirely new level is something the Majerus Family Foundation is proud to support.

"Rick also emphasized the importance of the student athlete. To honor Rick's commitment to the classroom, the Majerus Family Foundation will be awarding $50,000 in scholarships to senior students participating in the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout."

In addition, a Most Valuable Player plaque, in honor of Rick Majerus, will be awarded to an individual player following each of the 27 games in the 2015 event.

The Majerus Family Foundation was founded by Rick Majerus, Milwaukee and Wisconsin basketball coaching legend who coached at Marquette University, Ball State University, Utah and Saint Louis University. Majerus served as a Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach to Don Nelson in 1986-87, and assisted Nelson in 1994 in coaching the U.S. National Team, which earned a World Championship Gold Medal in FIBA competition. The foundation mission is to support athletics, scholarship, medical research and social justice and equality for all individuals.

The WBY Shootout has become a staple on the state's high school basketball landscape with big crowds, stellar players and state-championship-caliber teams taking part in the event during the past 10 seasons.

Mark Miller, editor of the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook for the past 30 years and director of the WBY Shootout along with host school Whitefish Bay Dominican, said teaming with the Majerus Family Foundation is a dream come true.

"As a big fan of Rick Majerus, I knew how much prep basketball in our state meant to him," Miller said. "He was very supportive when I was a fresh-out-of-college 22-year-old and wanted to start the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook. He remained in touch throughout his various coaching stops and always wanted to know about the best teams and players in the state.

"I am honored, humbled and extremely blessed to work with Jodi and others in the Majerus Family Foundation, along with administrators and parents at Dominican, to help promote the game and recognize deserving student-athletes."