NY2LA BA kicks off this spring
Nike changed the spring/summer grassroots basketball scene when they put together the idea of the EYBL several years back. The concept was several programs around the nation coming together to play league games instead of weekly tournaments and at the end of three months of league play a final championship would take place.
Adidas and Under Armour followed suit with similar leagues of their own and what you had was a fresh new spring/summer concept that had players, parents, coaches, and fans excited. Adidas and UA added new destinations, new players, new teams, and overall more opportunity in a new way.
That was great for those top players that could get on those rosters but what about everybody else? Paul Seville, Dakota Schoolers program director and Events Manager at the Sanford Pentagon, led a group of Grassroots directors that brought a similar concept to the upper Midwest four years ago called the “Sanford Pentagon Tournament Series”.
Fourteen teams played league games over three different weekends and the SPTS event ends with a championship in mid-July at the Sanford Pentagon. What makes the SPTS different from the shoe team leagues is that the SPTS has teams at the 15U, 16U, and 17U levels from all the programs. The league has teams from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Antonio Curro and NY2LA Sports has taken that concept in the Midwest and has put together yet another exciting new league with a similar format only the “NY2LA Basketball Association” will have several more teams and it’s expanding even further.
The NY2LA Basketball Association includes the Dakota Schoolers, Minnesota Comets, Minnesota Select, Omaha Crusaders, and Wisconsin Blizzard who already compete in the SPTS (the SPTS and NY2LA BA will be playing in separate weekends allowing teams that play in both to have six set weekends of league play between the two leagues). This league will also have play at the 15U, 16U, and 17U levels.
The NY2LA BA so far has teams from ten different states competing including Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Those teams are as follows:
ALL-IN/Y&R (Illinois)
Chicago Lockdown (Illinois)
Dakota Schoolers (South Dakota)
Grand Rapids Storm (Michigan)
Illinois Irish (Illinois)
Illinois Stars (Illinois)
Kessel Heat (Illinois)
Martin Brothers Select (Iowa)
MBA Select (Indiana)
Mercury Elite (Illinois)
Minnesota Comets (Minnesota)
Minnesota Select (Minnesota)
New Mexico Force (New Mexico)
OSA Crusaders (Nebraska)
Quad City Elite (Illinois/Iowa)
Ray Allen Select – RAS Milwaukee (Wisconsin)
R.E.A.C.H. Legends – (Michigan)
Wisconsin Blizzard (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin Playmakers (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin Shooters (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin Swing (Wisconsin)
Yanders Law (Missouri)
The following is the announcement from Curro and NY2LA detailing the plans of the new league.
“NY2LA Sports is known for running high caliber grassroots platforms annually that feature some of the most talented programs and prospects in the country each year.
“In 2016 NY2LA Sports will continue to move forward with offering quality grassroots basketball initiatives with the debut of the NY2LA Basketball Association. With quality exposure opportunities at a premium during critical viewing periods each year, the NY2LA Basketball Association will play host to 15U-17U teams and it will be held on select “live” period evaluation weekends next spring and summer.
“Teams will compete during two regular season weekends next April leading into a championship tournament next July where one champion will be crowned in each age group. NY2LA Sports grassroots basketball platforms have a rich history of excellence and talent in recent years.
“Close to 50 participants of NY2LA Sports events were chosen as McDonald’s All-Americans over the past 7 years and close to 40 participants were chosen as Jordan Brand All-Americans during that same period.
“Over the past 5 years close to 50 players have been selected in the annual NBA Draft with 30 of those being first round selections. In the 2015 NBA Draft the first three picks, six of the first 10 picks, and 12 of the first round selections all participated in NY2LA Sports grassroots basketball platforms.”