Across Indian Country, basketball isn’t just a pastime, it’s a heartbeat. If you’ve ever sat in a packed gym on a Friday night in Indian Country, you already know: basketball is the official sport of the reservation. They call it "Rez Ball", a relentless, lightning-fast, free-flowing style of play that demands elite conditioning, razor-sharp game IQ, and pure instincts. It’s a brand of basketball built on speed, relentless transition, and unselfish play.

This year, that iconic style of play takes center stage in a way Northern Wisconsin has never seen before with the launch of the Ojibwe Nation Invitational.

Hosted by Rising Stars Basketball and held at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School, the two-day event brings together young men from across 11 tribal communities:

The host community will be well represented on the floor, featuring local student-athletes from both the Hayward School District and the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School playing side by side in front of their hometown crowd.

While the competition on the hardwood will be fierce, the spirit behind it is rooted in unity. For years, iconic events have set the standard for Native athletics, including the Lakota Nation Invitational in the Plains, Navajo Prep in the Southwest, and the nationwide NABI tournament. Now, the Ojibwe and Great Lakes tribes finally have a landmark stage of their own to celebrate their athletes, their culture, and their pride.

From the players running the floor to the coaches on the sidelines, the game officials blowing the whistles, and the workers keeping score at the table, the tournament is a powerful showcase of Native talent at every level of the game.

For the young men stepping onto the court, the stakes go beyond bragging rights among neighboring nations.

According to NCAA demographic data, Native American athletes make up less than 0.5% of all NCAA student-athletes. They remain one of the most underrepresented minority groups in collegiate sports, often overlooked simply due to geographic isolation and a lack of exposure to college recruiters.

The Ojibwe Nation Invitational aims to directly bridge that gap. Twenty-five college coaches have been invited to sit courtside, offering under-the-radar prospects a rare, direct pipeline to evaluation, recruitment, and higher education opportunities.

When the opening whistle blows at Lac Courte Oreilles, each team will bring its own distinct flare to the floor. But when the final buzzer sounds, the tournament's lasting impact won't just be reflected on the scoreboard.

Supported by local businesses, community sponsors, and dedicated organizers, the Ojibwe Nation Invitational stands as a historic first for the region, a celebration of culture, community, and the undeniable talent of Great Lakes Native athletes.

Shout out to our Local Sponsors:

Rez Ball has found its newest home, and the future of Ojibwe hoops is just getting started.

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School
8575 N Trepania Road
Hayward, Wisconsin 54843

There is parking near the gymnasium with roughly 10 spaces. There is also a lower parking lot with more than 30 spaces.

Saturday, August 8, 2026

9am: Lac Courte Oreilles vs Bad River
10am: Lac Vieux Desert vs Sota Boyz
11am: Lac Courte Oreilles vs Lac du Flambeau
12pm: Bad River vs Lac Vieux Desert
1pm: Southside Red Bears vs Sota Boyz
2pm: Lac Courte Oreilles vs Lac Vieux Desert
3pm: Menominee vs Sota Boyz
4pm: Bad River vs Lac du Flambeau
5pm: Menominee vs Southside Red Bears
6pm: Lac du Flambeau vs Menominee
7pm: Lac Courte Oreilles vs Southside Red Bears

Sunday, August 9, 2026

9am: Seed 7 vs Seed 6 (Division III Championship Game)
10am: Seed 5 vs Seed 4 (Division II Championship Game)
11am: Seed 3 vs Seed 2 (Semi-Final Qualifier)
12pm: Winner of 3-vs-2 vs Seed 2 (Division I Championship Game)

There are going to be trophies awarded to the Division III champion, Division II champion and the Division I Champion, as well as 5 medals provided to the players who receive the most votes from the coaches for best tournament performance(s).

Smoke Signals Media and No Rezervation Affiliation will both be on-site. Smoke Signals will be provided game summaries, game statistics, keeping track of tournament performances and leaderboards as well as picking a player of the game for each contest. Each game will come with a game summary, statistics, player of the game, and stats are kept with the Game Changer app.

To learn more, visit the Rising Stars Basketball Facebook Page.