The NYCHA Journal

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Program Partners Top Story Youth 

Junior Knicks Basketball Skills Clinic Celebrates Empowerment for Girls

Vincent Echavaria

Basketball wasn’t the only lesson for the girls who came out to the courts at the Johnson Community Center in East Harlem on March 13.  

In recognition of Women’s History Month, a free basketball skills clinic was also intended to be a source of inspiration for female players ages 14 and under from across NYCHA developments. The Authority teamed up with the Junior Knicks and the nonprofit Grow Our Game to host the First Annual Skills and Drills Empowerment Day for Girls, offering guidance on basketball skills and fundamentals.  

More than 60 NYCHA residents participated in the event, which was led by some of New York City’s top female basketball clinicians and Junior Knicks instructors. Knicks legend John Starks was also in attendance to meet with the athletes and supervise some drills. In addition to the skills lessons, some of the guests spoke about their experiences in hopes of inspiring a future generation of basketball stars and executives.  

“With March being Women’s History Month, we wanted to do something that inspires the young girls,” said Curtis Williams, a NYCHA Community Development Department staffer who previously ran the Authority’s former citywide basketball league. “We wanted the young girls to leave this event feeling empowered.”  

The New York Knicks take pride in supporting girls basketball and providing opportunities for young women to learn and grow within the sport, said the Knicks’ Youth Engagement Coordinator Mei-Lyn Bautista.  

“It is important to always encourage the next generation of females in sports today, as they are the future leaders of tomorrow,” she said. 

Mr. Williams said some of the participating coaches may have similar stories to the NYCHA youth, and they can serve as a model for how basketball can lead to a successful career.  

“We really put an emphasis on making sure they see a representation of themselves,” he noted. “These are individuals who were just like them at one time, who started out the same way they did, who have had careers collegiately and professionally, and are doing great things in the community and corporate world.”  

One such professional, he added, is Chiene Joy Jones, founder of Grow Our Game, which provides free programming to girls basketball players throughout the city. “She has such a positive presence on the court, and her energy is infectious,” Mr. Williams described. 

“I’m absolutely thankful for NYCHA and Junior Knicks partnering with the sisterhood of Grow Our Game to celebrate women’s empowerment,” Ms. Joy Jones said. “I am looking forward to continuing to spread the joy of learning the game of basketball throughout many more communities in New York City.” 

Among the other guests at the event was Detective Sara Hosein of the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau, who spoke to the youth about the importance of education and giving back to the community. 

Along with celebrating women leaders, the Empowerment Day skills clinic helped stir up interest from girl players for the next season of the Junior Knicks Basketball League later this year. The co-ed league, which has restored citywide play at NYCHA, attracted 2,000 young NYCHA residents who competed on 78 teams in the inaugural season last year.  

“I like that all the girls cooperated with each other and we made the best of our time in our drills at the Junior Knicks clinic,” said Arielle Tanco, a Breukelen Houses resident who participated in the Empowerment Day event.