Drew Dawson of Guilford, Conn., has joined the team at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) as Hooplandia General Manager. In this role, he will oversee overall operations for the event and strategize leading up to the tournament, which is held the third weekend in June annually.
Dawson holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and business as well as English from Lafayette College in Easton, Penn. He earned his master’s in sports management from East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, Penn., and an executive certificate of completion from the Foundations of Business Planning program at the University of Hartford’s Entrepreneurial Studies program in West Hartford, Conn.
In college, Dawson played NCAA Division I basketball for Lafayette College. He was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame as a member of the 2000 NCAA Tournament team.
Dawson’s basketball story began at an early age, and the sport has been a consistent motif throughout his career.
“My journey in hoops begins around seven years old,” shared Dawson. “That was when I was first introduced to the game and tried to hold my own against older neighborhood kids in the driveway or local park. It was not long before I became hooked, and my love of the game grew from there. Basketball has been great to me—the experiences, memories, lifelong relationships, travel, professional opportunities. It is a lifelong passion for me. Although, my relationship and involvement with basketball have changed throughout the years, it has remained a constant and lifelong passion for me.”
Dawson’s past roles include lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at both Lafayette College and the University of Hartford, formerly a member of the America East Conference. He is currently an adjunct faculty member and head prep coach at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., and founder of 3x360 Sports, a leading basketball-based event management and brand activation platform dedicated exclusively to the growth of FIBA 3x3 basketball.
Dawson is also a FIBA-certified coach and member of the Ireland U20 National Team coaching staff. The U20 Irish National Team advanced to the Elite Eight while finishing seventh at the 2025 EuroBasket Championships in Armenia.
His other relevant experience includes director of development and program advisor with the Global Sports Academy (GSA) in West Chester, Penn., and contributor to College Chalktalk through Fox Sports Digital.
When asked why he chose Hooplandia, Dawson said, “3x3 basketball is the world’s number one urban team game, and it will appear in the Olympics for a third time in Los Angeles in 2028. Between this buzz and the support of Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Hooplandia is already an unstoppable force. I’m eager to add to its momentum.”
“At my first Hooplandia, I am most excited to see the effects of our community engagement,” he continued. “I hope to expand participation, sponsorship, strategic partnerships, spectatorships and local and regional relations to new heights. I’m enthused by the prospect of building Hooplandia into one of the most widely recognized and successful 3x3 events and alternative sports festivals internationally.”
Dawson will arrive to the Hooplandia courts with his game face on. Will you? The Northeast’s Ultimate 3x3 Tourney and Festival takes place June 19-21 this year, and registration is open now at Hooplandia.com. Rally your team and sign up today!