The organizers of the Paradise Jam announced late last week that the 2017 tournament would be moved from the U.S. Virgin Islands due to the damage suffered to the area by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Today, Liberty University and the Paradise Jam, jointly announced that the 2017 tournament would be hosted by Liberty at the Vines Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The field features Liberty, Wake Forest, Colorado, Houston, Drake, Drexel, Mercer and Quinnipiac, and will be played November 17-19. Each participating team in the field was sent a request for proposal last week, offering each university the opportunity to bid to host the tournament. Liberty won that bid.
The Flames are scheduled to face Mercer in the first round of the tournament with the winner facing the winner of Houston and Drexel. On the other side of the bracket, Wake Forest will face Drake and Colorado will match up with Quinnipiac.
“We are honored and thrilled to host the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam at Liberty University,” Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw stated via school release. ” This event is one of college basketball’s most prestigious tournaments and we look forward to Wake Forest, Colorado, Drexel, Houston, Mercer, Quinnipiac and Drake competing on our campus. All of the tournament gate receipts will be donated by Liberty to humanitarian relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist in their recovery from the hurricane destruction. Moreover, LU Send Now will be collecting donation items from fans that will be delivered to those in need in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
