NYCHA Tips Off New Season of Junior Knicks Basketball League

July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

The Junior Knicks are back at NYCHA.

Following its inaugural season last year, the Junior Knicks Basketball League has returned with 25 sites across NYCHA slated to host games and skills and drills clinics this summer.

In partnership with the Junior Knicks and the NYPD, NYCHA kicked off the 2022 league season with a community celebration at Manhattan’s Wald Houses on July 15. Approximately 80 young residents from across the city came out to the courts to eagerly display some skills and set the co-ed league in motion for players ages 10 to 15.

“It was really a perfect day, with the weather and the number of youth that came out,” described Curtis Williams, NYCHA’s Assistant Director of Community Development, who previously ran the Authority’s former citywide basketball league. “We had an opportunity to thank our parents. The energy was amazing.”

Mr. Williams said that so far, about 600 youths have signed up to play and many more are expected to join the league, which runs through the end of August. Boys’ and girls’ teams in three age groups (10-11, 12-13, and 14-15) will compete per location, while weekly skills and drills clinics will be offered for children ages 4 to 9.

The Authority’s Junior Knicks League launched in the fall of 2021 as an effort to restore citywide play at NYCHA and showcase renovated basketball courts at developments throughout the five boroughs. The upgraded courts and revitalized league competition have been celebrated for providing opportunities for NYCHA youth to stay active and safe within their communities.

Dozens of NYCHA youth from across the city were joined by Junior Knicks staff and NYCHA and NYPD representatives to celebrate the start of the new league season.

Junior Knicks players were eager to show off their talents in a variety of skills and drills sessions with league staff.

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A total of 78 teams participated in last year’s league, with squads from Carver Houses in Manhattan, Hammel Houses in Queens, and Bronx River Houses in the Bronx capturing league championships in the 11-and-under division, 13-and-under division, and 15-and-under division, respectively.

This summer season, the league is implementing a “curriculum-based” skills and drills program, in which staff – many of whom are coaches and teachers – received training on various methods to engage youths, Mr. Williams noted.

“We know they already have that experience, but we wanted to have a universal approach following a curriculum across the board,” he said.

As games are set to begin, Mr. Williams said NYCHA is hoping to build on the league’s success from last year and make this a signature year that can set an example for the future.

“I’m over the moon and jumping for joy,” he said about the new season. “This year we look forward to being the springboard to something even bigger. When we look back maybe five or six years from now, 2022 would be the year that kind of solidifies this program.”