Big Blue Nation, get ready to hit the road this summer as the Kentucky men’s basketball team travels to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to participate in the 2023 GLOBL JAM from July 12-16 at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Canada Basketball, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), invited the Wildcats to represent the United States in an international basketball showcase featuring U-23 teams from around the world. The event will include teams from Canada, Africa, and Germany, in addition to the United States.
UK head coach John Calipari expressed gratitude for the invitation, saying, “On behalf of everyone at the University of Kentucky and our team, we’re honored to represent the United States and we’re excited to get to Toronto and take part in this terrific event.”
The GLOBL JAM will feature a round-robin format from July 12-15, followed by bronze and gold medal championship games on July 16. Fans can purchase a Team USA Gold Pack, which grants access to all of UK’s round-robin games as well as the gold medal championship game. GLOBL JAM tickets are available through Ticketmaster, with prices starting at less than $20 per session for two games.
This marks the fourth summer exhibition series for the Wildcats under Calipari’s leadership, with the team having played in The Bahamas in their last three trips away from home.
Kentucky has a strong connection to Canada, with former Wildcats Jamaal Magloire, Trey Lyles, Jamal Murray, Mychal Mulder, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all going on to have successful NBA careers after their time in Lexington.
NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson highlighted the importance of the event, stating, “Kentucky is among the most storied programs in men’s college basketball history, and will serve as a fitting representative for our country and our sport on this prominent international stage.”
Further details, including a full game schedule and broadcast information, will be released at a later date.