Registration for Young Family Athletic Center junior basketball open through Dec. 15
Nov. 30—Registration is open for kids from kindergarten to eighth grade who want to play in the inaugural Young Family Athletic Center youth basketball league, in partnership with the Norman Parks and Recreation Department and the Norman Optimist Club.
Registration is $115, and includes an eight-game season, as well as a preseason and postseason tournament.
Kellen McCoy, athletic supervisor of the Young Family Athletic Center, said to commemorate the league's launch, each player will receive a black and white Adidas uniform, both top and bottom.
"It'll be a reversible uniform, so one team will wear white every game, and one will wear black," McCoy said.
He said the city previously hosted the Junior Jammers league which played its last season in 2020.
"Basketball is a sport that teaches a lot of life lessons to our youth," McCoy said. "It teaches healthy living, as well as teamwork, problem solving and fighting through adversity."
"It's a good way to keep our youth occupied in a constructive way as they learn to work together and compete," he said.
The season will end before Norman Public School's 2024 Spring Break.
McCoy said the league will give children an opportunity to play in the new athletic center which offers eight regulation-sized basketball courts with one championship court. Each court has its own shot clock and scoreboard.
"The gym also has a 74 foot video board in the middle of the facility as well," McCoy said. "It'll be a great atmosphere for games."
The center will open in early 2024.
Jason Olsen, Parks and Recreation director, said he looks forward to the opening of the new athletic center.
"The new Young Family Athletic Center is going to be a unique and special experience for all the youth in our community," Olsen said. "We are going to be the envy of every other city in Oklahoma."
McCoy said Trae Young has put a lot of time into serving the community through programs like this.
"Trae is a one in a million type of person, both with his ability and his heart," McCoy said. "His desire to give back to his community that helped mold him is unbelievable."
He said the center will inspire young players to work hard and reach their dreams.
"This gives kids in Norman motivation so they can spend time to become a better basketball player," he said. "They also need to make sure they take care of their academics."
The deadline for league registration is Friday, Dec. 15.
"Trae and his family are super excited to be a part of this in making this center a special experience for kids in Oklahoma," Olsen said.
Brian King covers education and politics for The Transcript. Reach him at bking@normantranscript.com.
