by Devon Jeffreys, August 28, 2011

Deron Williams was back in Utah on Saturday, playing ball for a good cause.

But it wasn't basketball that D-Will and some of his former teammates engaged in, rather it was dodgeball as Deron and Kyle Korver hosted their Third Annual Dodge Barrage Tournament at The Factory in Lehi.

"It's great to back for the third year," Deron told The Daily Herald. "Kyle and I put it on and it's a fun time. It's a great event with a younger, hipper crowd. It's pretty affordable for everybody and it's a good way to raise money."

Deron was joined on his team by former Jazz teammates Korver, CJ Miles and Wesley Matthews. The men sported Teenage Mutanty Ninja Turtle costumes for this year's tournament. Last year they were the Ghostbusters.

Tournament proceeds were split between the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Valley through Deron's The Point of Hope Foundation and the Utah Chapter of Korver's Seer Group charity.

The duo plans to continue the Dodge Barrage Tournament next year, but is not sure if the game will return to Utah for a fourth year now that both Deron and Korver, who now plays for the Chicago Bulls, no longer reside in Utah.

"This will probably be our last time here, doing it in Salt Lake," he told The Salt Lake Tribune. "We're going to probably move it to Chicago; we talked about that just because [Kyle Korver] has ties there and I have ties there as well. We feel like it could be a bigger event there. We did have about 25 times less teams this year than we did last year."

Still D-Will loves the area and told The Tribune that he plans to retire there. And if he hears enough positive feedback, he said they will explore continuing the tournament in Utah.

"I love Utah," Deron said. "Even though I'm not playing here, I still love the people, love the fans."

Deron also told the Tribune that he will be heading over to Turkey soon to begin practicing with Besiktas and hopes to play soon thereafter.

"I'm excited," he said. "I think it'll be exciting to go over there and play basketball, for one, while everybody else isn't. It'll just be an exciting time for my family. See a new culture."

RELATED STORIES

• Interview: Deron Williams on Turkey (The Salt Lake Tribune, August 27, 2011)
• NBA stars compete in local charity dodgeball tournament (The Daily Herald, August 28, 2011)
• Upbeat Deron Williams all smiles during Utah return (Salt Lake Tribune, August 27, 2011)
• Ex-Jazz players Deron Williams, Kyle Korver set for Utah return (Salt Lake Tribune, August 27, 2011)