Last Sunday, September 11, 2022, marked the end of Asphalt Green's second annual Community Programs Basketball Tournament, when the Young World Ballers won the championship game for players aged 14 and under. Our 16-and-under league ended in August when the players from Eddie Lau Academy were crowned league champions for their age group.

14U Champions Young World Ballers16U Champions Eddie Lau Academy

The Community Programs Basketball Tournament is a summer program that offers kids from all over New York City – and beyond – the opportunity to engage in organized, competitive basketball while school is out. We partner with local community organizations and provide their teams free entry to the tournament to ensure that athletes from all backgrounds have access to organized summer basketball.

This year we had 14 teams playing across the two age groups. Young World Ballers beat out four other teams to become champions, while the Eddie Lau Academy team beat out eight other opponents to clinch their title. Altogether, almost 150 young athletes took part in the tournament this year. 

The teams who played in the tournament came from boroughs all across New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. For the first time, two teams even travelled from Bloomfield, New Jersey to compete in the league – and they’re eager to return next season to be a part of the action. 

We are looking forward to the return of the Community Programs Basketball Tournament for the third time next summer and are excited to continue to grow the program. Our mission is to provide sports and fitness opportunities to all New Yorkers, and the annual Basketball Tournament is one of the many ways we accomplish that goal.

Learn more about our community programs and donate today to help share the power of sports and fitness with all New Yorkers. 

Donald of the Young World Ballers makes a free throw.