(CMR) The National Basketball Association (NBA) and global investment company Dart have announced a collaboration to launch the Junior NBA program, the league’s global youth basketball development program for boys and girls, for the first time in the Cayman Islands.
The program will tip off with Jr. NBA Week from Thursday, May 25 – Sunday, May 28, at Camana Bay Sports Complex, featuring a 3-on-3 tournament as well as clinics for coaches and referees.
Through the collaboration, the NBA and Dart will deliver tools and resources to grow basketball in the Cayman Islands while teaching the fundamental skills and core values of the game, including teamwork, respect, determination and community. The 3-on-3 tournament will consist of two divisions for boys and girls in the 12 and under and 14 and under age groups. Each team will receive NBA-branded uniforms for their games.
Additionally, on May 25, the NBA will host a coaches clinic for local physical education teachers and coaches that will provide them with player development resources, techniques, and on-court exercises to effectively teach basketball to aspiring players.
On May 26, the NBA will host a referees clinic led by former NBA official Joey Crawford that will offer local referees best practices on officiating with an emphasis on mechanics and game management.
“Dart believes in the power of youth sports to strengthen communities and has supported local programs through sponsorships, donations, and facility development for over two decades,” said Dart Director Jackie Doak.
“When it comes to basketball, there is no greater partner than the NBA, bringing decades of experience that will inspire our young players. We share in their recognition of the influence coaches carry and are committed to supporting our local coaches and referees through dedicated training clinics. We hope all schools and coaches can take advantage of this exceptional opportunity,” Doak said.
“This is an important step in our ongoing commitment to growing basketball at the grassroots level and encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle in the Cayman Islands, Caribbean and across all of Latin America,” said NBA Latin America Senior Vice President and Managing Director Arnon de Mello.
“Dart is well-known for its investment in community development, and we’re excited to work collaboratively to positively impact the lives of youth in the Cayman Islands,” he added.
The Jr. NBA teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the 2021-22 season, the NBA reached 41.4 million youth participants outside through in-person and online events and clinics in 160 countries.
Fans in the Cayman Islands can follow the NBA on Facebook (Facebook.com/NBALATAM), Instagram (@NBALatAm), YouTube (@NBALatAm) and Twitter (@NBALatAm), and download the NBA App on iOS and Android for the latest news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, videos and more.
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