Basketball association scores funding for youth academy

Sunday 26 November 2017

The Jersey Basketball Association (JBBA) has secured a sponsorship deal with financial services provider JTC for the upcoming season which they hope will help them bolster their Youth Academy.

The two-year partnership will enable the JBBA and its volunteer coaches to provide regular basketball lessons, as well as competitions, and weekend beach basketball sessions in the summer. It will also help them buy new cutting-edge equipment.

The Association is currently working with a group of up to 100 youngsters aged eight to 17. As well as engaging more young people, the JBBA hopes that the new sponsorship will also strengthen the performance of the Jersey Under 17s team in the annual inter-island competition which Jersey will host in 2018.

Stuart Gilmour, Juniors Development for the JBBA, commented: “Without sponsorship such as this, we would simply not be able to continue to provide the teaching, matches and equipment that our young local basketball players need, so we are immensely grateful to JTC for their commitment. With this extra support, we’re aiming to encourage more children to take up the sport and give our existing young players the opportunity to reach their potential in a way that wasn’t possible before.”

Tony Whitney, Jersey Managing Director, JTC, added: “Sport is so beneficial to a young person’s physical and mental well-being, encouraging teamwork with fellow team-mates, helping to build confidence and developing communication skills. We hope that JTC’s partnership with the JBBA’s Junior Academy will help encourage more children to play and that it will secure the future of basketball in the Island."