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A conversation with Hall of Famer and NBA Champion Ray Allen :: WRALSportsFan.com

So, Ray, what’s it like transitioning from obviously being a basketball star, NBA champion to now a basketball dad? Well, you gotta remember it wasn’t really a transition because even when I played in the NBA I was still a dad. So now I’m just the dad and the Uber driver, uh, because every morning […]

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So, Ray, what’s it like transitioning from obviously being a basketball star, NBA champion to now a basketball dad? Well, you gotta remember it wasn’t really a transition because even when I played in the NBA I was still a dad. So now I’m just the dad and the Uber driver, uh, because every morning I’m there and I’m taking the kids to school and picking them up and, you know, at, at all their sporting events. So I’m not as gone as much uh as when I played, um, so just consistently, they know I’m always there and It’s amazing because When I put my shoes on and go take out the trash, they’re like, uh, Dad, where are you going? I’m like, I’m just going to take out the trash because they’re used to now me being home so much, which is uh which is great uh being retired. Obviously, being the son or daughter of Ray Allen has its advantages, but how have you made sure that doesn’t come with too much pressure or too much of a burden too as as they pursued their own basketball dreams. Uh, sometimes I have to take myself out of the, the, uh, equation. Uh, when there’s some games I just don’t go to, just Um, no, or I would say more practices, uh. Uh, being a coach, being an assistant coach in some different programs helping out, sometimes I just kinda stay away from it. Uh, some games I just try to. Wear a hat and sit in the bleachers and I try not to be too loud and draw attention, uh, cause there are times when people know I’m there, they’re like, which one is your son? And I’m like, he’s out there. Because because then kids started to pay more attention to to who who he is and then. They don’t know how to operate with that bull’s eye on their back just yet and so. It it does require me just to pay attention. Uh, at all times. Like, I know you guys want me to be there and I’m going to be there, but I’m not going to be where you need me to be, where you can see me. I’m going to be watching from under the bleachers or Just something just to just take the pressure off of the situation for everybody cause sometimes. The other kids get distracted. Like I, what I would do sometimes, I did this last term there and I left the game early. And I knew the team was playing a little harder because it was my team and my kids were on it. And literally, they ran out of the gym looking for me when I, when I was in the parking lot. And so it, it does sometimes distract other people, but even with my AAU program, I always tell the kids I was like, sometimes you guys are playing against kids that want to beat me and not you because they see the name on your chest. I said, so you got to really understand there’s a little more bull’s-eye on you than you realize. So in the very least, Have energy Uh, don’t let them work harder than you. Uh, be focused and know that they feel like they’re playing in a championship game because they want to be able to beat you guys. No, I’m, I’m just starting this journey myself. I’ve got a seven year old daughter, 5-year-old son, and, and a, a 1 year old here, and, you know, I didn’t play college athletics, pro sports, not expecting them to, but there’s obviously a ton of incentive now for kids to get into college sports if they can, between NIL and scholarships. But I’m trying to figure out, I mean, when’s the right age to pursue more advanced coaching, private lessons, and, and how do you know if your child is, is really gonna benefit that all, from all that comes into that? Well, hm. Because it, it’s not a, it’s not a quid pro quo. Um, if you go into it with the hopes of an a reward or something at the end of the rainbow, then a lot of times you end up disappointed by it because now you’re driving a narrative. Now you’re, you know, I had parents that were paying, I have one parent that was paying $500 an hour. Um, for, for a trainer, and the trainer ought to be ashamed of itself, but. They just knew that he can tell this guy anything because he had the money to pay for it. And that’s just not, that’s not the formula. You know, private lessons is not the formula. The formula for me, for, for kids specifically in basketball is just put them in environments where they could play and there’s other kids better than them and just keep showing up and playing basketball every single day. Uh, foundationally for you as a dad. It’s about your environment that you’re creating for your kids. Do they, do you walk with them on the weekends? Are you playing board games with them, um, at home, instead of them, everybody just going their their separate directions? Are you watching sporting events and cheering and and celebrating and creating your your moments with your family? You know, are you eating at the table together? All those things create this communal spirit that live with inside kids that that allow them to want to be a part of something. You know, now they’re learning how to be a part of a system, a team. And then when you’re playing board games, they’re learning how to want to win at those board games. They want to compete. You know, you don’t win anything, but there’s so much fun. Challenging each other and talking and doing all these things. And so now you’re building something with inside of that, that child, their heart and their desires. So then you put them in any situation and they want to compete. And then they go out and play basketball, and they want to beat the kids and get better. So, it’s about changing their hearts and minds and and putting something on them so they can start to say, I want to do that, and I want to compete, and I wanna learn because you’re teaching them that at home. But if you’re saying, go out and play basketball and do all these things, but every day you sit on the couch, you don’t work out, you don’t do anything to improve yourself, they’re mimicking your behavior, and they’re like, oh, I’m good, I’m just gonna stay here. Now your kids, you got two of them playing in AAU tournament this weekend at Disney Wild World of Sports, right? Yeah. I is AAU still the best place you think to compete and get seen at colleges at a high level for, for youth sports? No. I, I don’t think it’s. It doesn’t have to be the best place. It doesn’t have to be the optimum place for you, because remember, It is finding a uh a system for your kids to be able to play basketball every day. Now, if they’re playing every day and they’re competing in their community and they have a place to go, and they have, I played, I became good because my dad was in the Air Force and I played on the weekends with him and all these grown men. You know, I played, if, if I compare percentage wise, AAU was probably. 10, 15% of my life growing up. You know, where you, I played once or twice, 11 summer and then I end up playing a couple more teams that summer. Because now I can showcase my skills, but I wasn’t coming to AAU to build my skills, to learn. My program now is hoping to help those kids build their skills so they can learn and fall in love with the game and then get better. And then you have the games to see how you stack up. But a lot of AAU programs, they’re just about what shoe you’re wearing, the uniforms, what tournaments you’re playing in. And we, as a, as a culture, we we we need to change that. We need kids to start learning the concepts of basketball and understanding. What it takes to be part of a team and then individually work on your own skill set. So, if you’re, I, and I, I don’t even like A kid that’s just playing, just doing all this skill development. I would rather them be out of the backyard playing 21 and playing 2 on 2 and 3 on 3 because now It’s unadulterated. You don’t have to you don’t have to fix these situations. They’re learning how to play basketball by just getting comfortable being in the backyard playing pickups. So that, that, that’s what I would say more than anything is just them playing. It’s funny how much the game has changed too just so recently, like I was looking at some of your stats today. Most threes you made in a season I saw was 269 and two Celtics almost did that this year. Uh, do you think we’ve gone too far with the evolution of the three-point shot and just how much of basketball is a math equation now? Well, threes are more than twos, um, the, these analytical guys will tell you that. Um, but I’ll say that. Not making a 3 isn’t better than making a layup or getting a mid-range shot where you’re getting 2 points. Um, traditionally, In in the NBA big men have always been the leading. The leaders in field goal percentage. Uh, you know, you could bank that literally and and and figuratively. So, over the course of the last couple of years, big men are no longer really have a presence in the game. So that’s a skill that we don’t see anymore. There used to be so much great dominance of bigs on the block, scoring post moves, and when you want a bucket down the stretch, you can go to your big man. Now it’s just shoot 3s. You just keep shooting threes, and that could be a hit or miss proposition. Um, and I think that that doomed the Celtics a lot this year. Uh, just, you know, just living and dying by the three-pointer. Um, but when you need a bucket, sometimes you just need a bucket and it’s gotta, you, you know, it’s gotta be a mid-range. You sometimes get to the hole, get a layup, and that builds offensive rhythm. So, I, I just think right now, analytically. I understand where they where where they come from, but. I, I just think right now, there’s too many players on the team shooting threes. And there’s no diversity in the game. As much as everybody can do it, it’s 5 out basketball, but there’s, there has to be more to it than just that. You know, and and the players today will tell you that the skill, they’re so much better than the players from the past. But I’ll show you. Terrell Brandon, uh, and these are guys I’ve played with, you know, Glenn Robinson. Uh, Ben Baker. Um, You know, those guys that were great mid-range scorers. Terrell was great in the pick and roll. Sam Cassell was great on the block. Um, you know, none of them guys shot threes at all, and they were so specific in their skill set, they could score and were problems out there on the floor. But now we don’t have that type of, those types of players anymore because we, we’ve sacrificed that skill for three-point shooting. And the 3 points, it’s a lot of great shooters in the league today, but there’s also a lot of bad shots taken, a lot of untimely, you know, 3s taken, which, you know, they’re gonna score more cause long term you shoot more 3s, but from a skill perspective, Now certain players aren’t uh uh making it to the league anymore because there’s no No post presence. Yeah, it’s, uh, it’s, it’s fascinating. My son down there. I wish I could say he’s wearing a Ray Allen jersey right now. He’s got, uh, Steph Curry on, but I, I, I was a big fan of your career, so I appreciate you taking time to do this with me today, man. Yeah, no problem. It was a pleasure. And good luck to your kids down there in the tournament. Yeah, thank you. Appreciate you.



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MLB All-Star Weekend descends on hotbed of Black baseball talent — Andscape

Gresham Park comes alive as the sun sets over southeast Atlanta. Smoke rises from barbecue grills, Kendrick Lamar and SZA pulse through speakers, and the baseball fields are packed with Black youth chasing fly balls, hitting line drives and laughing under the lights. Scenes like this are almost mythical in most American cities, where Black […]

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Gresham Park comes alive as the sun sets over southeast Atlanta. Smoke rises from barbecue grills, Kendrick Lamar and SZA pulse through speakers, and the baseball fields are packed with Black youth chasing fly balls, hitting line drives and laughing under the lights.

Scenes like this are almost mythical in most American cities, where Black children have all but vanished from baseball fields. But here in Atlanta, the game is not only alive, it’s thriving and vibrant.

This didn’t happen by chance. For at least the past two decades, the Atlanta area has become a blueprint for cultivating Black baseball talent — a city where grassroots organizers, former pros and community leaders have built a thriving ecosystem of opportunity.

While other cities watched their Black baseball programs shrink, Atlanta doubled down — investing in coaching, showcasing players on social media, and creating a culture where young Black athletes don’t have to choose between loving the game and seeing a future in it.

Often viewed as a sport in decline among Black youth, that isn’t the case in the Atlanta area due to its travel ball powerhouses, community-based programs and development of the next wave of Black Major League Baseball talent that includes the likes of C.J. Abrams (Washington Nationals), Kristian Campbell (Boston Red Sox), Lawrence Butler (Athletics) and Michael Harris II (Atlanta Braves).

These standouts lead a quiet renaissance of sorts by representing a new chapter for Black athletes in a sport that has long struggled with diversity.

And Atlanta, the site of this week’s MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park, is leading the way.

Marquis Grissom of the Atlanta Braves at the plate during a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug. 28, 1995.

Jonathan Daniel / Stringer

While 6.2% of Black players appeared on MLB Opening Day rosters this season, a rise from 6% last season, 14 Black Atlanta-area natives were on 40-man active rosters. This area in Georgia has been so lush with talent that, since 2010, eight top-10 MLB draft picks have been Black players from Atlanta. In the 2022 draft, three Black Atlantans were chosen in the first round: Druw Jones (second overall), Kumar Rocker (third) and Termarr Johnson (fourth).

Atlanta’s baseball push in the Black community was intentional for former major leaguers like Marquis Grissom, who founded the Marquis Grissom Baseball Association (MGBA) during the last three years of his baseball playing career in 2003. His mission is to provide underserved communities with the opportunity to play in a competitive baseball league.

He sponsors travel baseball teams and provides mentoring and college placement assistance. Grissom said more than 40 players in MLB or the minor leagues have come through his program, and nearly 600 have received college scholarships.

Grissom initially started his program to help his son, Marquis Grissom Jr., who is a pitcher in the Washington Nationals’ organization. But Grissom said he realized most Black kids were missing out on proper development.

“I reverted back to recreation ball because we don’t want to leave any kid out,” said Grissom, who played 18 MLB seasons and won a 1995 World Series title with the Atlanta Braves. “We have the beginner, intermediate and advanced level from ages 5 through 12. And then we have 13 to 18 in the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program and different age groups for travel ball. We’re just trying to keep every kid engaged into the game.”

Atlanta native and Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II joined Grissom’s program when he was 14 and played in MGBA throughout high school. He remains involved in the offseason, working out with other youth in the program along with other major leaguers like Butler.

“I was attracted to [MGBA] because Grissom was really successful in the majors at the highest level,” Harris II said. “Seeing someone that looks like you from the same area, who had a lot of success in a sport you love, helps give you the drive that you kind of need.”

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder CJ Stewart’s program has also provided a need with the creation of his organization in 2007. Co-founded by Stewart’s wife, Kelli, LEAD (Launch, Expose, Advise and Direct) is a nonprofit that uses baseball as a vehicle to build life skills for boys in grades 3-12.

Starting last spring, the Atlanta Braves and LEAD launched a spring league in Atlanta Public Schools for elementary and middle school students. The program focuses on social-emotional learning by tracking growth through Hello Insight, a program that uses outcomes in social and emotional learning to help evaluate youth. And LEAD helped establish a pathway from recreational baseball to travel ball for Black youth who lack financial resources.

“We are a sports-based youth development organization,” Stewart said. “Our intentional use of sports is to help children make a healthy transition into adulthood.”

Since 2002, Mentoring Viable Prospects (MVP) has focused on providing opportunities and exposure for Black youth pursuing a college education by connecting them with college coaches and professional scouts. The nonprofit organization provides academic support and mentorship. According to MVP’s website, more than 500 players have earned college scholarships since its founding.

“Black kids have always played baseball in little leagues and our parks are always overflowing. We tend to lose them at the middle school level to what some call the more glamorous sports. But many of us see baseball as a glamour sport and [Atlanta] has developed into the right place for [Black] players to develop and to be seen.”

– Greg Goodwin, executive director of athletics for Atlanta Public Schools

The organization was founded by Greg Goodwin, who won 70% of his games as head baseball coach at Redan High School in Stone Mountain. He was a four-time region coach of the year and in 2013 guided Redan to a baseball state title — Georgia’s first predominantly Black high school to achieve this feat.

Goodwin, now the executive director of athletics for Atlanta Public Schools, said he started MVP to squash the perception that Black kids weren’t playing baseball.

“We knew that was a lie,” Goodwin said. “Black kids have always played baseball in Little League and our parks are always overflowing. We tend to lose them at the middle school level to what some call the more glamorous sports. But many of us see baseball as a glamour sport and [Atlanta] has developed into the right place for [Black] players to develop and to be seen.”

Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler runs to first base against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park on July 6 in Sacramento.

Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

The Atlanta area has also produced several elite Black baseball players because of premier travel programs like East Cobb Baseball and Team Elite Baseball. Former major leaguer Brandon Phillips and 2022 first-round pick Johnson (currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization) are alums of East Cobb. Team Elite’s MLB alumni include former Detroit Tigers outfielder Christin Stewart and current St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker.

The competition and exposure that travel baseball provides is so important that many Black families move to the Atlanta area partly for that reason. Campbell’s family moved from Tennessee to Marietta, Georgia, for East Cobb Baseball.

“For years, we were driving every weekend from Tennessee to Georgia so I could compete at the highest level,” Campbell said. “I benefited from the move because I was constantly close to the better players and the good coaching of East Cobb. Constantly being around that environment helped me get better.”

Atlanta’s success certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially with the high volume of Black players attending college to play baseball and the major league players who have been produced. Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown, the lone Black GM in MLB, was vice president of scouting for the Braves from 2019-2022.

Brown credits the success of Atlanta’s youth programs and events like the Hank Aaron Invitational for keeping players interested in baseball.

“What’s weird is that in most cities, African American kids grow up playing football and baseball, but in Atlanta the African American kids are entrenched in baseball,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of baseball going on in that area, so you have these young players growing up getting a chance to show what they can do at an early age, and they continue to develop.”

With Atlanta emerging as a model for developing Black baseball talent and fostering a vibrant culture around the game, other cities now have a clear blueprint to follow. Resources like social media and platforms such as Black Baseball Media, Black Baseball Mixtape, the Jerry Manuel Foundation, and MLB’s The Players Alliance offer valuable insights into how to replicate Atlanta’s success.

But, according to Grissom, duplicating Atlanta’s approach requires more than just information — it demands a commitment to priorities.

“Nowadays, everybody wants to play game after game after game instead of practicing,” Grissom said. “You’ve got travel teams where guys just show up for the games. But the number one thing is development. If you’re fundamentally sound and constantly work on your fundamentals, that’s what creates greatness.”

Branson Wright is a filmmaker and freelance multimedia sports reporter.



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Glassman brothers inspire youth through basketball camp

TAMPA, Fla. — Matt and Trevor Glassman have the skills and resume to help young hoopers discover the love of the game. The brothers are hosting a summer basketball camp this week at PickUp USA Fitness. “I started playing basketball in the second grade and (Trevor) was pretty much my mentor,” Matt said. Trevor Glassman […]

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TAMPA, Fla. — Matt and Trevor Glassman have the skills and resume to help young hoopers discover the love of the game.

The brothers are hosting a summer basketball camp this week at PickUp USA Fitness.

“I started playing basketball in the second grade and (Trevor) was pretty much my mentor,” Matt said.

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Trevor Glassman

Trevor and Matt Glassman

Matt followed his big brother’s footsteps as a walk-on at Manhattan University, eventually becoming captain and earning a Division I scholarship.

Trevor finished his college basketball career at the University of Missouri after winning a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships at Manhattan.

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Kyle Burger / WFTS

Matt Glassman

“This is a dream come true for me,” Matt said. “I’ve always wanted to have a basketball camp, and to have my brother to help out, coach and run it, it’s amazing.”

“Matt has put a lot of time in and making sure that the youth in Tampa can not just enjoy basketball, but also understand what it takes to work hard and believe in yourself,” Trevor said. “That’s the message of this camp. We want players to get better, but also have confidence and have a fun time.”

It’s a full-circle moment for Matt, who is also the girls varsity head coach at Alonso High School.

The Glassmans are hosting a four-day camp for second-grade through ninth-grade students.

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Kyle Burger / WFTS

Trevor Glassman

“They’re going to teach me about all the stuff for basketball li,ke the journey, the adventure to be a better player,” camper Anay Seth, 9, said.

Matt and Trevor also want to use this camp to inspire kids to chase their dreams. That’s why each camper is wearing a wristband that reads, “I did it. You can, too!”

“As a seventh grader, I had a teacher ask me what I wanted to do in my life,” Matt recalled. “I told him, my goal was ‘to be a Division-I basketball player.’ And, he laughed in front of the class, in front of all my peers.”

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Kyle Burger / WFTS

Matt Glassman Basketball Camp

Matt hopes his own experiences can prepare the next generation for success both on and off the court.

“The whole reason I put that message on this wristband is that these kids can do whatever they want,” Matt said. “That moment in seventh grade stuck with me.”

“Coach, from every moment he had has made it clear that he was pursued his dreams and what he thinks is going to be the best way to come about that,” camper Georgia Price, a junior at Alonso, said. “Even more than that, his philosophy is never giving up on somebody, that’s made abundantly clear within his program.”

In new report, bankruptcy investigator says Citrus County homebuilder may have ‘duped’ buyers

When Madeline Frets made her first payment for a new-build home in Citrus County, she never imagined she would still be waiting for that dream home to become a reality almost four years later.

In new report, bankruptcy investigator says Citrus County homebuilder may have ‘duped’ buyers





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Youth Soccer Roundup | News, Sports, Jobs

JAYS 8U The AFSCME Local #418 Red team beat the Trophy House Yellow team 7-2. Makeira Martinez had three goals while Moise Mulonda and Colton Martin each had two goals for Red. Jordy Berg scored two goals for Yellow. Goalkeepers for the AFSCME Local #418 were Storme Krause, Scarlet Dawson, Travis Parkhurst and Taylen Hannold. […]

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JAYS 8U

The AFSCME Local #418 Red team beat the Trophy House Yellow team 7-2.

Makeira Martinez had three goals while Moise Mulonda and Colton Martin each had two goals for Red.

Jordy Berg scored two goals for Yellow.

Goalkeepers for the AFSCME Local #418 were Storme Krause, Scarlet Dawson, Travis Parkhurst and Taylen Hannold.

Goalkeepers for the Trophy House were Liam McAdoo, Vincent Robbins, Olivia Michael and Mylo Crawford.

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The Honest John’s Black team beat the Pearl City Cycle Green team 3-0.

Goal scorers for the Black team were Leo Bell, Myles Curtis and Emme Johnson.

Goalkeepers for Honest John’s were Aurora Caldwell, Katerina Parsons, Maurice Daniels and Elliot Panebianco.

Goalkeepers for Pearl City Cycle were Alvie Peterson, Emmy Madden, Elliot Forster and Aviana Mitchel.

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The Rodger’s Land Surveying Purple team beat Fessenden, Laumer & DeAngelo Blue team 3-0.

Goal scorers for the Purple team were Niko Knight with two goals and Oakland Snow with one goal.

Goalkeepers for Rodger’s Land Surveying were Aubriana Gifford, Amelia Trusso, Theodore Culpepper and Rocco Yarber.

Goalkeepers for Fessenden, Laumer & DeAngelo were Nevaeh Duhan, Amelia Guzman, Carson Spare and Silas Triglia.

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The Post-Journal Pink team beat the Lena’s Pizza Orange team 1-0.

Ezekiel Perez scored the lone goal.

Goalkeepers for The Post-Journal were Landon Hubbard, Tommy Paterniti, Brenna Paterniti and Ezekiel Perez.

Goalkeepers for Lena’s Pizza were Teghan McWilliams, DJ Figuero, Kenny Mallaro and Amiah Benitez.

JAYS 10U

Smile Ink downed Runnings 5-0.

Sawyer Anderson led the way with three goals, while Paityn Brown and Timothy Berry both added one.

In net for the winners were Timothy Berry, Julia Nelson, Owen Smith and Naomi Burgos.

Runnings’ goalkeepers were Elena Spence, Elizabeth Dossey, Remy Monn and Arabella Pollino.

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Behind three goals from Charlie Robertson, two by Jayda Richards and one by Gianni Cruz, A+ Painting shut out Jamestown Pediatrics 6-0.

Olivia Figuera, Gieanna Sharp, Alec Harrington Jr. and Amelia Hoover were in goal for the winners.

Sharing netminding duties for Jamestown Pediatrics were Jackson Smith, Donnie Pappalardo, Oliver Schnars and Tessa Olson.

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Jamestown Honda defeated Phone Zone 6-0.

Jase Randolph and Gave Randolph collected two goals apiece, and Josiah Torres and Isaiah Torres both scored one.

Deivon Rios Jr., Jocelyn Dole, Isaiah Torres and Josiah Torres were the goalkeepers for Jamestown Honda.

In goal for Phone Zone were Brandon Overbeck, Candence Horton, Shane Swanson and Sienna Overbeck.

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Charlie Robertson’s hat trick helped A+ Painting to a 4-2 win over Phone Zone.

Gianni Cruz added the other goal for the winners, who had Alec Harrington Jr., Robertson, Gieanna Sharp and Josemilla Santiago Kercado in the nets.

Tucher Leone scored twice for Phone Zone, who had Cecelia Jimerson, Kati Giuffre, Myles Cassevoy and Sienna Overbeck between the pipes.

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Smile Ink upended Jamestown Pediatrics 3-1.

Sawyer Anderson scored twice and Timothy Berry tallied once for the winners, who had Owen Smith, Julia Nelson, Naomi Burgos and Timothy Berry in goal.

Sofia Perez accounted for the lone goal for Jamestown Pediatrics, who had Luke Seely, Drew Cicelske, Ahlina Benitez and Adilynn Hancock in the nets.

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Three goals by Gabe Randolph, two by Destiny Rodriguez and one by Nora Anderson, Jase Randolph and Devion Rios Jr. carried Jamestown Honda to an 8-0 win over Runnings.

Goalies for the winners were Gabe Randolph, Jase Randolph, Isaiah Torres and Arabella Tate.

Jameson Plachotnik, Remy Monn, Aylah Bair and Anna Johnson shared the goalkeeping duties for Runnings.

JAYS 12U

Karileishka Ramos scored twice and Asianna Anthony, Jayden Silliman and Bryce Kingsbury added one apiece to lead Dole Studio to a 5-1 victory over Luv Kia of Jamestown.

James Swarbrick tallied the lone goal for Luv Kia of Jamestown.

The goalkeepers were Karsen Silliman, Ramos, Julian Rivera and Damarion Hubbard for Dole Studio and Crimson Brake, Naava King, Martha Pound and Aiden Sajdak for Luv Kia of Jamestown.

SWSC U10

Andrew Tyler scored three goals and added one assist to lead Ulrich Faabricateion to a 6-1 victory over the Skyhawks.

Aerie Turner chipped in a goal and an assist, and Luke Stock and Matthew Hughes contributed a goal apiece to the winning effort.

Tyler, Turner, Hughes and Eloise Jagoda shared the netminding duties, while Lydia Voorhis Taya Curtis, Emilia Beebe, Caitlin McKernan and Hayden Benson played strong defense.

Tobia Gram tallied the lone goal for the Skyhawks, who had also served as a goalie along with teammates Violet Hanson, Lola Smrekar and Alec Hasson.



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Newbury Trustees Plan AED Expansion to Meet State Safety Mandate

Newbury Township officials weighed the cost and logistics of expanding access to Automated External Defibrillators across the community July 2 — a move aimed at protecting residents and young athletes in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. Newbury Township officials weighed the cost and logistics of expanding access to Automated External Defibrillators across the community […]

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Newbury Township officials weighed the cost and logistics of expanding access to Automated External Defibrillators across the community July 2 — a move aimed at protecting residents and young athletes in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

Newbury Township officials weighed the cost and logistics of expanding access to Automated External Defibrillators across the community July 2 — a move aimed at protecting residents and young athletes in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. The discussion comes almost a year after House Bill 47 was passed, which requires facilities in municipalities, counties and townships with over 5,000 residents to be equipped with AEDs. Youth sports organizations are also required to have access to AEDs — which are devices used to aid in delivering electrical shock or defibrillation, according to the American Red Cross — during practices and…



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Why this student’s nonprofit is now receiving national attention

BOCA RATON, Fla. — A local college student who is transforming communities through the power of sports is now being recognized on a national stage. For Ian Waite, sports are a way of life. “Growing up, I was a three-sport athlete. I was the captain of the basketball, baseball, and cross-country teams. Sports were my […]

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BOCA RATON, Fla. — A local college student who is transforming communities through the power of sports is now being recognized on a national stage.

For Ian Waite, sports are a way of life.

“Growing up, I was a three-sport athlete. I was the captain of the basketball, baseball, and cross-country teams. Sports were my entire life,” Waite said.

WATCH BELOW: Lynn University student to receive ESPY Award

Lynn University student set to receive ESPY award for leadership

He grew up in Pittsburgh and envisioned himself being a professional athlete, but in his senior year, he realized his life mission was bigger than sports.

“I had two parents who worked in higher education institutions, so for me, leaving high school sports was just a stepping stone for me to go to college and pursue other passions that I had,” Waite said.

As a freshman at Lynn University in Boca Raton, his passion turned into his nonprofit, Bigger Than Sports (BTS).

“Bigger Than Sports started because I did get to go to college and have that amazing first year, but I realized that not every other student had that stepping stone,” Waite said.

BTS is an organization that helps students and student-athletes from underserved communities, like Lenard Hart of Delray Beach.

“This experience allowed me to become a better role model,” Hart said. “Even though they helped me, it’s allowed me to help my peers struggling the way I struggled,” said Hart, an Atlantic High School student.

Hart said education scared him, so he sought comfort and guidance from the team at BTS.

“I never really had confidence. I was scared to open up. I believed that the world was scary,” Hart said.

Through the mentorship, Hart embraced challenges and earned a scholarship to St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.

As for Waite, later this month, he will be honored with the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award at the ESPY Awards on July 16.

It’s an honor for young people who use the power of sport as a catalyst for change and make a positive impact on society.

“I can’t lie to you. I (had) tears,” Waite said. “Even now, a couple of weeks later, I ask my team to pinch me because it still doesn’t feel real. I’m so excited for it.”





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AIM Sports Group Teams with BASE Sports Group to Power and Elevate the Next Generation of Youth Sports

AIM Sports Group Teams with BASE Sports Group to Power and Elevate the Next Generation of Youth Sports Innovative partnership will pair brands with next-gen youth sports enterprise BASE Sports Group, a sponsorship sales agency dedicated to youth and community sports, has announced a new partnership with AIM Sports Group, a leading sports enterprise focused […]

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AIM Sports Group Teams with BASE Sports Group to Power and Elevate the Next Generation of Youth Sports

Innovative partnership will pair brands with next-gen youth sports enterprise

BASE Sports Group, a sponsorship sales agency dedicated to youth and community sports, has announced a new partnership with AIM Sports Group, a leading sports enterprise focused on enhancing youth sports through innovative leagues, sport facility management, national events, media and technology. BASE will help connect brands through AIM’s portfolio of events, media, tech, and facility to youth sports communities.

AIM Sports Group owns and operates a 130,000-square-foot sports complex in Orange County, California. It also operates a Southern California boys volleyball league supporting more than 5,000 players. In addition, AIM owns and operates three annual national events under the SoCal Cup banner, drawing more than 220,000 spectators annually. Each of the three-day tournaments hosts more than 600 boys club volleyball teams from all over the U.S. and beyond, driven to compete for what has become the ultimate bragging right in the sport. These SoCal Cup marquee events have seen year-over-year growth, packing the Los Angeles Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

AIM has also doubled down on supporting youth sports by investing in tech innovations. This fall, AIM will formally launch its AIM+ tech & media platform, which produces stats, highlights, box scores, and rankings. AIM+ enables young athletes, their families, and coaches to access professional-level profiles, video highlights and rankings.

Through the partnership, BASE will spearhead and cultivate brand sponsorship opportunities and support for AIM’s full portfolio of events, tech, and facility.

“AIM’s portfolio is built to elevate the sports experience, and as we expanded we recognized the opportunity to align with a partner with a keen sense of collaborative branding and sponsor-driven relationships that benefit everyone involved,” said AIM Sports Group Founder John Gallegos. “BASE has a proven track record of positioning and elevating youth sports events and properties while preserving the integrity of the athlete experience. We’re excited to grow with them.”

AIM Sports Group joins a growing network of leading brands and properties represented by BASE, which delivers customized sponsorship programs for brands looking to reach youth sports communities across the country.

“From the scale of its national events to the sophistication of its programming, AIM is a standout in youth sports,” said Mark Dvoroznak, Co-Founder of BASE Sports Group. “AIM is a genuinely innovative operation – not just because of its assets, but because of its DNA. The team at AIM uniquely understand the dynamics of Gen A athletics, so its venue, league, tournaments, and tech platform are all built around elevating the youth sports experience. These communities are highly sought after by future-facing brands, and brand investment will not only enhance the experience, it will fuel growth. We’re proud to partner with AIM and look forward to helping them maximize these opportunities.”

For brand inquiries or to learn more about opportunities with AIM Sports Group, contact: info@basesportsgroup.com.

About AIM Sports Group

AIM Sports Group is a premier sports enterprise that owns and operates a state-of-the-art sports event and training facility, premier youth boys volleyball league, regional tournaments, national events, and tech platforms. AIM is focused on enhancing the journey of youth athletes through innovation and elite competition in sports. Learn more at aimsportsgroup.com.

About BASE Sports Group

BASE Sports Group is a tech-enabled, data-backed, sponsorship sales agency dedicated to youth and community sports. BASE was founded in 2021 to bring a sophisticated and measured approach to commercial partnerships in this sports sector. BASE’s leadership team touts 30 years of experience in the youth sports and partnership industry. BASE has secured partnerships with brands like: Papa John’s, PRIME Hydration, US Army, DUDE Wipes, College Ave Student Loans, Floyd’s Barbershop, Hard Rock Cafe, and many more. These brands have trusted BASE to engage the families of youth athletes across 20+ sports and in more than 40 states — a total network of more than 25 million consumers. Learn more: basesportsgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Paul Williams, 310/569-0023, paul@medialinecommunications.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250709178301/en/



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