Hoop Hub Creates Opportunity and Community Through Basketball in Starrett City
Basketball has long been woven into the fabric of Brooklyn, serving as more than just a sport for young people across the borough. That spirit was on full display at Hoop Hub, an Opportunity Hub Teen Central basketball tournament designed to provide local youth with a positive environment where they can compete, connect, and grow both on and off the court.
“The inspiration behind the Hoop Hub was Kadeem, Gavin and I saw how our youth in Brooklyn need positive spaces where they can feel connected, supported and motivated.” co-creator and Youth Development Coordinator at Teen Central Jahvonte Williams said. “Basketball has always been bigger than just a game in our communities. It’s a language, culture, and a pathway for a lot of kids. We wanted to create something that combined competition with opportunity, mentorship, and community pride.”
For coordinators, many young people have talent and passion but lack access to structured, supportive environments. Hoop Hub was created to provide a space where youth feel seen, valued, and inspired.
“As the Assistant Director of Teen Central, I’ve seen firsthand how basketball can become a bridge to something much bigger than the game itself,” co-creator Kadeem Hendricks said. “The court bolsters the confidence of young people by pushing them to trust themselves, communicate, lead and overcome challenges.”
For many attendees, the tournament also served as a reminder that their community is invested in their success, bringing together youth, mentors, families, and supporters, in an atmosphere of encouragement and belonging.
“Basketball teaches life skills in real time,” Williams said. “It teaches discipline, communication, accountability, resilience, and leadership. Young people learn how to respond to adversity, work with others, push through challenges and those lessons translate directly into school, relationships and future careers.”
The Hoop Hub tournament concluded June 3 with a championship game at the Brooklyn Sports Club.
With the score at 57-51 heading into the fourth quarter, Benjamin Banneker remained within striking distance before Teen Central pulled away behind its size, athleticism, and relentless defensive pressure. Teen Central quickly seized control of the game, turning stops into transition opportunities and dominating the boards on both ends of the floor.
“The turning point is when we figured out the best player or the player that was getting downhill and scoring,” TC player EJ Ukiegbu said. “That’s when we started coming back in the second half, we were able to contain their best player.”
That momentum resulted in a decisive run, as Teen Central stretched its lead to 69-51 with 5:15 remaining and 81-57 at the 3:56 mark. While Banneker continued to compete until the final whistle, Teen Central’s physicality proved decisive in closing out the championship.
“When I come on the court, I don’t hear the crowd or anything, I just hear to be aggressive in my mind,” TC player Anthony Pernado said. “The key ingredients were defense and rebounding. We took the point guard and the big man out of the game. We guarded him because he was really the only ball handler. Once we took the big man and the ball handler out, the role players had to beat us.”
More than a basketball tournament, Hoop Hub represented an investment in the next generation. Through mentorship, community support, and the universal language of basketball, the event demonstrated how investing in young people today can help shape stronger leaders for tomorrow. Hoop Hub Creates Opportunity and Community Through Basketball in Starrett City