An upcoming basketball tournament will remember a legend in Manitoba's basketball community.

Basketball Manitoba Executive Director Adam Wedlake says that to have a basketball tournament at this time of year in memorium of David Price is truly something special.

"It's probably the busiest time of basketball for the community and to have a special one like Lord Roberts is putting on for David Price, in his memory, coming up in a few weeks adds an extra little special time to a busy whirlwind-kind-of season.'

David Price was best known as a referee within Manitoba's basketball community, but also coached and mentored countless youth during his life. He first came to Brandon from New York as a university basketball player himself in the late 1970s and never left. 

"He coached a lot, he did a lot of other volunteer stuff in the community but in our eyes, he was a referee.

Wedlake describes Price, who was in his mid-60s when he passed, as a special man who was "definitely a character.

"He was a unique guy who definitely put a smile on everybody's face," the executive director recalls. "[It] definitely hit the community hard last fall when he did pass away."

The news of Price's passing was unexpected, Wedlake says, and certainly sad for many involved in Price's community, through basketball and beyond.

Referees in any sport face the difficulty of maintaining order and making calls invariably for and against the teams playing. As a result, referees tend to not be "the most favoured person in the gym," in Wedlake's words. But Price left a different legacy behind for others to follow as a referee.

"What was really reflective of his character and who he was... the outpouring on social media back to us was, 'my favourite referee,'" shared Wedlake. "Sometimes those words don't get uttered very often by many. It's a tough role to be in, but he was so unique and took such a different approach to how he called the game, how he interacted with coaches, with players, with the fans.

"He was a one-in-a-million kind of player."

Wedlake says that it was impossible to leave a conversation with Price, who was often silly and always in a positive mood, even on his worst days. "I think everyone would say virtually the same."

Lord Roberts Community Centre, who felt the impact of Price's work, and certainly the sadness of his passing, is putting on a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, as well as renaming their gym after Price.

"It's a legacy piece," explained Wedlake.

The 3-on-3 tournament style, especially, was one that Price always liked. "It would be like comparing a traditional hockey game on ice... to street hockey; very much more of a casual approach and he took it very much that approach to his officiating," Wedlake chuckled.

Registration for the David Price Memorial 3x3 Basketball Tournament is open now. The tournament will take place on June 15, 2019.