The Alaska High School Activities Association was founded in 1957 by the territorial board of education, when the need arose for a regulating body in local and regional basketball tournaments.

During this event, thousands of people from all over the state of Alaska pour into Anchorage to cheer their respective local teams on, or to simply take in the basketball action.

Sullivan Arena, primarily a hockey venue, was reconfigured to contain two full-sized basketball courts for the tournament week.

Each year Alaska holds the first high school game in the nation, held usually around mid-August during summer vacation.

Collectively, local AASG programs serve over 25,000 young people in their home schools and statewide.