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 forerunners of Coral Springs hoops served as coaches, athletic directors, referees and fundraisers. 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, Jim Reilly and most of the Kreul Board of Directors.

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. J. P. Taravella captured the very first girls’ championship, punctuated by Mr. Kreul’s daughter Kolleen capturing the K.L. Tooze trophy honoring the most valuable player.

Fifteen 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 sixteenth 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.

For the 2005 tourney, first-year Florida Atlantic University coach and former North Carolina player and coach Matt Doherty makes an appearance.

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 (Please see our Sponsor Salute for a listing of this year’s partners).

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.