NBA AND BASKETBALL IRELAND LAUNCH FIRST JR. NBA LEAGUE IN IRELAND

Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League to Feature Boys and Girls Ages 11-12 

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Basketball Ireland today announced the launch of the Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League for boys and girls ages 11-12. 

The league will feature 10 Irish clubs who will each partner with three local primary schools to create 30 teams.  Each of the 30 teams will represent an NBA team and will receive corresponding NBA team-branded uniforms for their games.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.  

During the 2017-18 season, the Jr. NBA will reach more than 26 million youth in 71 countries through a variety of camps, clinics, skills challenges, league play and outreach events. 

“We are delighted to partner with Basketball Ireland on the first Jr. NBA league in the country,” said NBA Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations, Europe and Middle East, Neal Meyer.  “The Jr. NBA provides a platform for boys and girls in Ireland to learn about the game and the values it teaches including teamwork, respect, determination, and community.”   

“We are so excited to run the first-ever Jr. NBA league in Ireland,” said Head of Development for Basketball Ireland, Jason Killeen.  “The Jr. NBA is set to bring great excitement to children around Ireland as it allows them to gain experience in the sport of basketball in a fun learning environment.” 

Partnering with some of the top Irish clubs from around the country, the league will run from October to December, culminating in a festival of basketball at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght in December.

Leveraging the excitement of the NBA, the league will also promote the Jr. NBA values of teamwork, respect, determination, and community through competitive league play, Jr. NBA Draft and Finals events and Jr. NBA youth clinics.

For more information on the Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League, please visit http://jr.nba.com/.

For more information about the NBA, fans can visit NBA.com, Facebook.com/NBA and @NBA on Twitter.  

Fans can download the NBA App for news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, videos and more.

Big excitement as first ever Irish Jr. NBA League draft matches schools across the country with NBA teams

There was big excitement for clubs and schools around the country this week as the first ever Jr. NBA draft in Ireland took place at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
The draft marked the beginning of the inaugural Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League, which will run from October to December 2018, culminating in a festival of basketball at the National Arena on December 12^th, where an NBA Ambassador will be in attendance.
It also saw the announcement of DeCare Dental as official sponsors of the league.
“DeCare is absolutely thrilled to partner with Basketball Ireland and the Jr. NBA,” said Managing Director of DeCare Dental, Maureen Walsh. “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 13 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, Jason Killeen stated: "We're very excited that the first Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League is about to start. We have lots of excited schools and clubs around the country, and we are ready to have three great months of basketball leading up to the festival of basketball in the Arena in December."
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, league play, the festival of basketball event and Jr. NBA youth clinics.

You can check out the photos from the event here - (mandatory photo credit - Rolf Stenberg):   https://app.box.com/v/basketball-ireland

Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League 2018

Athlone BC (Westmeath)

Coosan NS, Athlone – San Antonio Spurs

St Ciaran’s NS, Baylin – Toronto Raptors

Ballincollig BC (Cork)

Scoil Barra, Ballincollig – Miami Heat

Gaelscoil Ui Riordain, Ballincollig – Milwaukee Bucks

East Cavan Eagles (Cavan)

St Mary’s NS, Virginia – Atlanta Hawks

St Killian’s NS, Mullagh – Brooklyn Nets

St Clare’s NS, Ballyjamesduff – Charlotte Hornets

Ej Sligo All Stars (Sligo)

Scoil Mhuire agus Iosaf, Collooney - Utah Jazz

Naomh Eanna, Carraroe, Sligo – Washington Wizards

Killester BC (Dublin)

Scoil Assam, Raheny, Dublin – Orlando Magic

St Francis of Assisi, Belmayne – Philadelphia 76ers

Liffey Celtics BC (Kildare)

Scoil Chearbhaill Ui Dhalaigh, Kildare – New York Knicks

Scoil Mhuire NS, Lucan – Oklahoma City Thunder

Limerick Celtics (Limerick)

Le Cheil NS, Limerick – Houston Rockets

Limerick School Project – Indiana Pacers

Limerick Educate Together – Los Angeles Clippers

Neptune BC (Cork)

Scoil Oilibhéir, Cork – Minnesota Timberwolves

Scoil Iosagain, Farranree, Cork – New Orleans Pelicans

Ongar Chasers (Dublin)

St Benedict’s NS, Ongar – Phoenix Suns

Mary Mother of Hope, Ongar - Portland Trailblazers

Templeogue BC (Dublin)

St Colmcille’s Knocklyon, Dublin – Boston Celtics

St Dominic’s NS, Tallaght, Dublin – Sacramento Kings

Titans BC (Galway)

Scoil Iognaid, Galway – Denver Nuggets

Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Galway -Detroit Pistons

Mercy Primary & Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla Galway – Golden State Warriors

Tralee Imperials (Kerry)

Scoil Eoin, Tralee – Los Angeles Lakers

St Brendan’s NS, Tralee – Memphis Grizzlies

Ulster University Elks (Belfast)

Ballyclare High School, Belfast – Chicago Bulls

Abbey Community College, Belfast - Cleveland Cavaliers

Blessed Trinity College, Belfast – Dallas Mavericks

For more information:

Jr. NBA Basketball:

For more information on the Jr. NBA Basketball Ireland League, please visit http://jr.nba.com/.

For more information about the NBA, fans can visit NBA.com, Facebook.com/NBA and @NBA on Twitter.

Fans can download the NBA App for news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, videos and more.

DeCare Dental:

DeCare Dental is Ireland’s only specialist dental insurance and oral health company, providing dental insurance products and oral health services to both the corporate and consumer markets. The team is dedicated to enabling people to attend the dentist thereby improving oral and general health and this has resulted in resulted in increased dental attendance and improved oral health over the past number of years in Ireland and the United States.

DeCare has operations in Claremorris, County Mayo and in Dublin, employing over 125 staff with deep experience and clinical knowledge. DeCare is a subsidiary of Anthem, the largest health benefits provider in the United States and a brand that is recognised for innovation and service and provides service to 50 million medical members.

Globally, the Irish team provides service to over 10 million dental members worldwide and has been doing so for close to 20 years.