Sacramento State is bringing two unlikely names to its basketball season kickoff tonight: online streamer N3on and NBA 2K franchise face Ronnie Singh, better known as Ronnie 2K, will serve as celebrity guest judges at Hornet Madness, the university's tip-off event for its men's and women's basketball programs. The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hornet Pavilion and features a dunk contest, a 3-point contest, and a skills challenge.
According to KCRA, N3on is described as one of the biggest online streamers working today, while Singh is the public face and one of the developers behind the long-running NBA 2K video game franchise. The station reported that it remains unknown whether either guest is being paid to appear. Singh built his reputation well before becoming gaming's most recognizable ambassador — he earned a management science degree from UC San Diego and worked in minor league baseball operations before joining 2K Games as head of lifestyle and content marketing, according to background compiled on Wikipedia.
N3on has an audience of more than 750,000 Kick followers and over 1.1 million YouTube subscribers. His streams have been described as provocative and high-energy, and he has collaborated with celebrities. His livestreams have occasionally spilled into real-world controversy; Hoodline previously reported that N3on and fellow streamer Benjy Chavez were swatted while broadcasting on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in March.
A New Arena Built for Bigger Crowds
Hornet Madness takes place inside Hornet Pavilion, the arena Sacramento State opened in November 2025 within The WELL recreation center.
Celebrity Star Power Behind the Bench
The celebrity judges arrive amid a broader push by university leadership to raise the basketball program's profile. Former Sacramento Kings player Mike Bibby was named Sacramento State's 17th head men's basketball coach in March 2025.
Spending Debate Simmers on Campus
A CSU Student Workers Union survey found that 77% of 513 student respondents strongly agreed Sacramento State devotes more attention and funding to sports than to academics, a finding Hoodline detailed in its report on student pushback last November.
The athletic buildout has extended beyond basketball. In November 2025, Hoodline reported plans to adapt Cal Expo as a game site. The pairing of a viral streamer and a video-game icon with a Division I basketball kickoff signals just how far Sacramento State is willing to go to get people in the seats.
