LAWRENCE — There was a return to normalcy last year with the 2022 edition of the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic, and as Brian Hanni reflected on it Monday there were a number of reasons to celebrate it.

Hanni, who created the charity event back in 2009, pointed to being able to hold their normal string of events. He pointed to how everyone was riding the momentum of the Kansas men’s basketball team’s national championship. And he explained that those factors together were critical when it came to the fundraising they were able to accomplish for families in need.

So, with the 15th edition of the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic coming June 8-10, Hanni is looking to keep that momentum rolling as much as possible. Last year, more than $270,000 was raised, he said, pushing the total for the event’s history to more than $1 million. And they’re continuing to look to help families dealing with pediatric cancer or other difficult illnesses.

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“This year, for the first time, we’re going to have a year-round benevolence fund where — we have our six beneficiary children, but beyond that additional kids in the months of September through May will get to attend a KU sporting event with a former Jayhawk star and receive a sizable check at the end of the night as well,” Hanni said. “So, it keeps us able to make an impact all 12 months out of the year — not just summertime.”

When Hanni mentioned the six beneficiary children, he was highlighting the “starting five & sixth man,” as outlined on the event’s website. Those are the six kids, and six kids’ families, that are being recognized with this year’s Rock Chalk Roundball Classic. They are Hayden Ballou, Ismael Vargas, Raven Hays, Lilly Bolton, Nolan Anderson and Hunter Brown.

The idea of adding a sixth, in addition to the starting five, came because of the fundraising total the event reached in 2022. Hanni called it “game-changing.” And he added that they realized if they can count on raising at least $200,000 each year, they want to try to benefit even more kids — which the event also does through its work with a partner organization called BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope.

If someone would have told Hanni back in the summer of 2009 that the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic would be going on 15 years, would have helped as many families as it has and would have raised more than $1 million, he said he probably wouldn’t have believed it. At the time, he was just looking to find a way that he could use his platform as a sports broadcaster to have a positive effect on his community. He just wanted it to become an annual event in Lawrence.

“With this being our 15th year, we’re doing a lot of things to celebrate the 15 years and some of the biggest moments along the way, looking back on some of those amazing memories but also trying to take the fundraising to an even higher level,” Hanni said. “So, that’s where the year-round benevolence fund comes in. We’ve added a sixth beneficiary this year.”

Hanni added: “We’re just excited to keep the giving coming and hopefully break new records on fundraising and all that.”

Tickets are still available for the Roundball Classic basketball game June 8, which will be played at Lawrence Free State High School. The same goes for the Gala Dinner on June 9 at the Burge Union and Rock Chalk Roundbowl bowling experience June 10 at Royal Crest Lanes. Those interested in the dinner or bowling can buy tickets online through the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic website, which also outlines how to get tickets in person for the basketball game.

Greg Ostertag, who played at Kansas in the 1990s for then-head coach Roy Williams, will be one of the two head coaches for the basketball game. As of Monday afternoon, the other head coach had yet to be unveiled. And among the other former players who are set to be in attendance are Ben McLemore, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Sherron Collins.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Rock Chalk Roundball Classic to celebrate 15 years of aiding families