12 | NPAR
NPYB launches its winter season
Written by : Megan Hart NPAR Correspondent
The North Port Youth Basketball ’ s 2017 winter season is set to tip-off Saturday , Jan . 14 . Since its inception , NPYB players and parents agree that the league has played a significant role in the community .
Board member Annemarie Graff values the league so much that she plans to stay involved even though her sons no longer play with the organization . Plus , it brings back good memories .
“ It ’ s so exciting when you see a child make their first basket ever ,” Graff said . “ That smile on their face … that ’ s why many of us , even though our kids are grown , keep coming back .”
NPYB features 28 teams made up of 280 boys and girls . The league is open to children from ages 5 to 17 , and teams are co-ed . After starting in 2002 as a YMCA program , it took on its current name and format in 2006 . Since then , it has been a favorite activity for kids in the North Port area .
In fact , the league is so popular that it has a wait list for interested players . Even with the addition of two teams for 14- to 17-year-olds – raising the total number of teams in that age group from four to six – the league is still unable to accommodate everyone who wants to play . Graff said gym space limits the number of teams that the organization can offer .
NPYB ’ s winter season , which runs
through March , culminates in a playoff series to determine the top three teams in each age group . To ensure that talent is divided equally among teams , league board members evaluates each player ’ s basketball skills before the start of the season .
“ Even though it ’ s a rec league , we still want competitiveness , and we want kids to be able to get excited about their teams ,” Graff said .
NPYB has helped develop its fair share of both high school and even college basketball players . Graff ’ s son , Brandon , currently serves as co-captain of the North Port Bobcats . He grew up playing in NPYB and still serves as a volunteer referee .
As does Malek Barber , who currently plays on the Palm Beach Atlantic University basketball team . He is an NPYB alum and a former winner of the organization ’ s Marcus Freeman Memorial Scholarship .
“ When I go back home now , I still swing by to NPYB practices or games to help out or just show support ,” Barber said . “ If I invest some of my time in these kids ,
I could possibly change their lives the same way NPYB has done mine .”
The Marcus Freeman Memorial Scholarship awards $ 500 each to three seniors annually . The deadline to apply for the 2017 scholarship is April 30 . In addition to the award , Barber said he had taken a lot away from his participation with NPYB .
“ This organization , through the years , taught me the basic fundamentals of the game , which carried over to me being a starter on the varsity team all four years of my high school career and was the foundation of me continuing my athletic career by playing in college ,” he said .
“ Something I didn ’ t realize I gained from NPYB until I was a senior in high school was just the sense of community that the program built .”
In addition to its winter season , NPYB also offers a summer league , which begins registration in March . NPYB is always looking for coaches and encourages interested community members to apply .
For more information , visit NPYB . org