Our
Story
Almost 30 years ago, a handful of men with burgeoning families formed
the Coral Springs Basketball Club both to give their kids a place to play
and to recapture some of their youth while playing in the men’s
league.
These Founding Fathers of Coral Springs hoops served as coaches, athletic
directors, referees and schedulers. They dutifully fulfilled this labor
of love without seeking financial support from any outside source, relishing
in watching the kids benefit from their magnanimity. Among these men were
Jim Kreul and Jim Reilly.
On a fateful day in 1990, Jim Kreul succumbed to a fatal heart attack
at age 41 while playing in the CSBC men’s league. Kreul’s
gargantuan size and deep bass voice were matched by his prodigious generosity
and wealth of good humor. The gentle giant and father of five was a fixture
in local basketball; when he wasn’t playing he was coaching his
kids, watching or traveling around the state for tournaments. Mr. Kreul’s
premature passing left a void in the hearts of many in the Coral Springs
community.
Continuing with plans that were already in the works, Jim Reilly embarked
on the task of paying tribute to his friend’s life by launching
a basketball tournament, an idea Mr. Kreul had long envisioned.
The Kreul also honors the memory of Kerry Lynn Tooze, another former CSBC
player who lost her life in an automobile accident. K.L. was a charter
member of the girls’ league and varsity player at both Coral Springs
and Taravella high schools who competitively played the game “for
the fun of it.”
The inaugural Kreul turned out to be a fitting salute to the man memorialized
by the tournament. Taravella captured the very first girls’ championship,
punctuated by Mr. Kreul’s daughter Kolleen claiming the K.L. Tooze
trophy honoring the most valuable player.
Seventeen years later, the tournament’s all-volunteer, 12-member board
of directors remains as committed as ever, meeting all challenges to keep
the tournament vibrant and thriving.
The board meets throughout the year under the diligent direction of Reilly
to discuss the myriad tasks needed to organize the largest boys and girls
high school tournament in the country.
Now in its seventeenth year, the Kreul gives 32 teams from diverse areas
in the U.S., Canada and the Bahamas the opportunity to showcase their
skills. Each year the four teams who reach the championship receive the
exposure of a nationally televised contest.
Plenty of high-profile sports personalities have lent their support to
the Kreul, starting with legendary coach Chuck Daly during his stint at
the helm of the first Olympic Dream Team in 1992. Following Daly’s
lead were Lou Carnesecca, Brian Hill, John Salley, Tubby Smith, Kevin
Loughery, Jack Ramsey, Tony Fiorentino, Hank Goldberg, Joe Rose and longtime
tournament friend Jack McKinney.
The Kreul, however, is about more than basketball. Reflecting the philosophies
of Jim Kreul and the founders, the tournament is geared to promote the
most altruistic goals of high school athletics.
Emphasis on education is a core component, as more than 100 Florida students
have been awarded scholarships of varying amounts. This includes 36 full-tuition,
four-year academic scholarships to FAU.
Underscoring the importance of community involvement, the City of Coral
Springs has provided dedicated partnership since the Kreul’s inception.
After three years of solid support, the City made the unprecedented effort
of signing on as co-sponsor. With the City’s generous patronage,
the tournament has not only survived but grown in reputation.
However, it takes more than one sponsor to sustain a tournament of this size. Over the years, many benevolent businesses have partnered with the Kreul to shape this exciting experience for our youth. The sponsors are far too many to mention here, but each one is appreciated immensely and vital to the event’s success.
Would Jim and K.L. be proud of the tournament that memorializes them? Well, the Kreul is a commitment to youth, driven by community volunteers, and dedicated to a game they both loved. We believe they would be proud.
Questions or Comments?