Basketball Ireland is bringing back the Irish Junior NBA League, tipping off in September.
The league will follow the same format as last year, with ten clubs being selected to partner with local schools. Clubs will be responsible for delivering the Jr. NBA programme locally before the National Festival of Basketball caps off the programme in December.
The programme is backed by the NBA out of its International Office in London and was a brilliant event to witness last year. We have a video of highlights from the day that you can see below.
Last year’s primary sponsors DeCare Dental were also announced as extending their partnership with the Jr. NBA for an additional two years.
“We are really excited for the second year of the Jr. NBA,” said Basketball ireland Head of Development Jason Killeen.
“Last year, over 2,000 children got involved with the sport through the participating schools and clubs, and we’ve already seen over 100 children start their long-term journey in basketball by joining clubs.”
“This year, we are going to have ten new clubs and thirty new schools, which means there are opportunities for even more children to play in the Jr. NBA.”
“We are delighted that DeCare Dental are going to be involved with the Jr. NBA for the next two years,” added Commercial manager Colm Meany.
“DeCare’s healthy lifestyle ethos fits well with what we are trying to achieve through basketball and we look forward to working together and growing the league together.”
“As a corporate partner, DeCare is thrilled to team up with Basketball Ireland and the Jr. NBA on this important journey,” said Company CEO Maureen Walsh.
“This collaboration is a meaningful way to support the values that sport, and basketball in particular, can instil in kids for life. This partnership is the start of something wonderful and we have already experienced the teamwork, fun, overall health and quality of life benefits that this partnership brings to life.”
Image Credit: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile