Purchase tickets: Individual | Name Your Table | Celebrity Table

SAN FRANCISCO - In anticipation of the 2016-17 basketball season, the University of San Francisco will host its second annual Dons' Tip-Off Gala on Friday, Oct. 21 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom, located in the heart of San Francisco's vibrant Financial District at 465 California Street.

The cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner program to celebrate USF Dons Basketball.  As part of the program hosted by KPIX's Vern Glenn, both men's and women's basketball teams will be introduced and the coaches will offer a preview of their seasons followed by a Q & A discussion and an opportunity to engage with the teams and coaches throughout the evening.

This year's program will feature a special guest speaker, as the incomparable Rick Barry will take the stage. The Naismith Hall of Famer is the only player to lead the NCAA, American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) in scoring for a season and his name appears near the top of every all-time offensive list.

Barry has deep Bay Area ties. His 15-year professional playing career began with the San Francisco Warriors in 1965 where he was a perennial All-Star. His playing career was highlighted by a 1975 NBA championship on a squad where he guided the Warriors to a four-game finals sweep of the Washington Bullets for the title. After retiring from playing in 1980, Barry began a successful stint in the broadcast booth teaming with USF legend Bill Russell to form a tremendous NBA broadcast duo.

Individual tickets to the event have been priced at $250, with the option to purchase a "Name Your Table" for eight for $2,500. This table offering includes the guest or company name on the placard designating your table.

In addition, Celebrity Tables can be purchased for $5,000, also including eight seats at the table. Choose to dine with this year's guest speaker Rick Barry, USF alumnus and Legend of the Hilltop Bill Cartwright, men's basketball head coach Kyle Smith, or the soon-to-be appointed coach of the women's basketball team.

In the spirit of engagement, each table will also include seating for a student-athlete, member of the coaching staff or representatives of the athletic department.

All proceeds from the night benefit USF's men's and women's basketball programs.

The USF men's and women's basketball teams tip off on the Hilltop in a special season-opening doubleheader on Nov. 11, as the women take on Sacramento State at 6 p.m., followed by the men's opener against Illinois-Chicago at 8 p.m.

The men will begin the Kyle Smith Era poised to make a return to postseason play, while the women embark on the season after earning a berth into the 2016 NCAA Tournament field for the first time in 19 years after capturing the West Coast Conference Championship crown in Las Vegas.

To register for this event, please visit usfdons.com/tipoffgala. For questions or to become a $10,000 underwriting sponsor, contact Julie Congi at congi@usfca.edu.