The 15 clubs who will take part in the second annual Jr. NBA league this year have been announced.

Each club will link in with a number of the local schools in their area to provide coaching and support for the league. They will also be represented at the Jr. NBA festival of basketball, which will be held at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght in December.

The clubs are a mix of Super League and National League clubs as well as a number of clubs who play regionally.

Speaking about the announcement today, Head of Development at Basketball Ireland Jason Killeen said: “We are excited to welcome 15 new clubs into the Jr. NBA programme. Last year, more than 2,000 children took part, over half of whom had never played basketball before. Hopefully this year’s Jr. NBA League will help develop an interest in the sport for a new generation of players.”

The Jr. NBA is proudly sponsored by DeCare Dental.

The 2018/19 teams are:

Belfast Phoenix (Antrim)

Moira Primary School – Indiana Pacers

St Anne’s Primary School – LA Clippers

St Teresa’s Primary School – Washington Wizards

Drogheda Wolves (Louth)

Gaelscoil an Bhradain Feasa – San Antonio Spurs

St Paul’s National School – LA Lakers

Tullyallen National School – Sacramento Kings

Kilrush Basketball Club (Clare)

St Senans Primary School – Portland Trail Blazers

Scoil Realt na Mara Kilkee – Charlotte Hornets

Gaelscoil Uí Choimín Kilrush – Minnesota Timberwolves

Limerick Lions (Limerick)

CBS Primary School Sexton Street – OKC Thunder

Maria King Presentation Primary School – Phoenix Suns

Malahide Basketball Club (Dublin)

Pope John Paul II National School – Miami Heat

St Oliver Plunketts National School – Orlando Magic

Maree (Galway)

Maree National School – Milwaukee Bucks

St. Oliver Plunketts National School Kilkerrin – Philadelphia 76ers

Scoil Mhuire Oranmore – New York Knicks

Moycullen (Galway)

Scoil Bhaile Nua and Scoil Naomh Cholmain, Moycullen – New Orleans Pelicans

Scoil Mhuire & Scoil Naomh Bride, Moycullen – Brooklyn Nets

North Kildare (Kildare)

Maynooth Educate Together – Chicago Bulls

Scoil Mochua, Cellbridge – Atlanta Hawks

Portlaoise Panthers (Laois)

Holy Family School – Golden State Warriors

Scoil Bhride Portlaoise – Denver Nuggets

Skibbereen Eagles (Cork)

St Patrick’s National School Skibbereen – Memphis Grizzlies

West Cork Rath, Union Hall, Castlehaven & Drimolegue National Schools (combination) – Detroit Pistons

St Joseph’s National School Skibbereen – Utah Jazz

UCD Marian and Meteors (Dublin)

St Attractas, Ballinteer – Houston Rockets

Hollypark Boys National School and Scoil San Treasa – Toronto Raptors

Scoil Naithí, Ballinteer – Dallas Mavericks

UL Huskies and Limerick Lakers (Limerick)

St. Brigid's National School, Singland – Cleveland Cavaliers

Castleconnell NS, Castleconnell, Limerick – Boston Celtics