HUNTINGTON -- Cody Slate, Adam Williams and Adam Yeager from Marshall University sports teams are expected to play this week in the 23rd RPA Memorial ValleyBall 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament.

Co-directors Joda Burgess and J.B. Blankenship anticipate having 35 teams in the A and B divisions.

Tournament action begins Friday and ends Sunday in what is believed to be one of a few full-court, 3-on-3 tournaments in the nation. It is played at RPA Memorial Park on Spring Valley Drive. The court is about half as long as regulation. The rims hang less than the regulation 10 feet at 9-feet, 6 inches.

"Valley Ball" is played in memory of neighborhood youngster Ronnie Paul Angelo, who died in 1976. Angelo loved to play basketball, so his family and friends built the court to provide other kids a place to play.

RPA Memorial Park has some bleacher seating, but many spectators line the court sitting in lawn chairs. Concessions are available.

Teams with current or past college players are in the A Division. Players from age 8 to 80 without college experience are on B Division teams.

A new division this year for players in grades five through eight didn't take off because of conflicts with Little League baseball tournaments.

"With that being said, we saw an increase of teams to 35 for this year's tournament in the A and B divisions, Burgess said.

Team entries came in as late as Tuesday night. Two weeks ago, Burgess said he had received money and rosters from five or six teams.

"Like anything else, everyone waited until the last minute to get things in, but it's great," Burgess said. "Guys saw us out at the court working and brought us their stuff. I'm sitting here at 2:30 Wednesday and I still don't have Friday's brackets done."

The biggest gain was in the A Division with 16 teams. That's where Slate (Marshall football), Williams (Marshall basketball) and Yeager (Marshall baseball) are playing.

"It's great that all these guys are coming out and playing in it," said Burgess, a former Thundering Herd basketball player. "That's the most A division teams we've ever had. When I was playing, we usually had around eight. To get 16 is phenomenal."

Tournament games will begin at about 2 p.m. Friday and continue until champions are crowned Sunday afternoon.

Burgess said with 35 teams, the demand for court space also increased. Now, when players and spectators arrive at RPA Memorial Park they will see two courts available for use.

"We actually got the blacktop laid down earlier this week, so we have two courts if we have to go to it," Burgess said.

In years past, the trailer from the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District was used as a main stage with announcers and scorekeepers sitting elevated above the court.

This year, everyone will be at ground level and the space usually taken up by the trailer will be where the new court is.

A tournament schedule wasn't finalized Wednesday, but games will go on from early morning to sunset.

"Last year, we finished up a little later after starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, so we might go a little earlier this year," Burgess said.

Today's weather forecast is calling for rain and isolated thunderstorms, but the weekend is supposed to clear up. Burgess said the Vinson Middle School gym was used in the past when rain chased the tournament indoors.

Parking is limited, so fans are encouraged to carpool if possible to cut down on traffic issues.

AP Video