The second annual Jr. NBA draft was officially held at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday and was followed by the 2019 Basketball Ireland Underage International Caps ceremony.
The draft marked the beginning of the Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League, which will run from October to December 2019, culminating in a festival of basketball at the National Arena on December 10th, 2019, where an NBA Ambassador will be in attendance.
For the second year in a row DeCare Dental are sponsoring the league and speaking on the day,
Managing Director Maureen Walsh stated “DeCare is absolutely thrilled to partner with Basketball Ireland and the Jr. NBA once more. We look forward to supporting these young athletes throughout their sporting journey as they build teams and develop lifelong values and character. The NBA has nurtured some of the world’s top athletes and role models, and this alliance will undoubtedly excite and inspire the children.”
The Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland league features 14 Irish clubs who have partnered with local primary schools in their area to create the 30 teams. Today’s draft saw the 30 teams from around the country matched with an NBA team as well as receiving corresponding NBA team-branded uniforms for their games.
Head of Development at Basketball Ireland, Ciaran O’Sullivan stated: “We’re really excited to build on the success of last year’s Jr NBA league. 95% of the children surveyed last year wanted to continue basketball and we are hoping this year’s Jr NBA will be just as successful.”
The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. Leveraging the excitement of the NBA, the league will also promote the Jr. NBA values of teamwork, respect, determination, and community through the upcoming Jr. NBA draft, competitive league play, finals events and Jr. NBA youth clinics.
The draft was followed by the international underage caps ceremony, which also saw the Special Olympics basketball team honoured at the event. Caps were awarded to players from Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, Under 18 3×3 and Under 20 men’s and women’s teams today.
Claire Melia (Under 20) and Abby Flynn (Under 18) were joint winners of the Female Underage International Player of the Year for their superb performances on the European stage this year, while Under 16 star, ND Okafor, picked up the Male Underage International Player of the Year. Ireland Under 20 women’s head coach, Martin Conroy, was awarded the Underage International Coach of the Year after he led his side to bronze medal victory in Kosovo and promotion to Division A basketball.
Image Credit: Seb Daly, Sportsfile
