Pine Bluff, Ark. (KATV) — Life lessons in youth athletics tend to stick with kids for years, and even a lifetime.
Past memories of competition typically remain with the majority of those who live to still share accounts of those days to anyone willing to listen.
Lucas Armstrong, a key community figure in the city of Pine Bluff, has remained steadfast in his effort to assure those times that shaped countless young people never go in vain through athletics, mentorship, and community service.
Through the Youth Basketball Association, those stories continue to echo today amongst those who were under his tutelage.
“So when I took over the team, they were the Merrel Center Tarheels,” said Armstrong.
“Jacqueline Robinson, over the Merrill Center, she is the one who was dealing with kids, trying to keep them off the street. I just came in and gave them basketball structure.”
During discussions with Robinson, Armstrong navigated through coaching opportunities until getting his first coaching opportunity under YBA in 2016.
“As that was happening, we had Parks and Recreation basketball league [Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation] starting, and that’s when we started the Tarheels,” said Robinson.
One player, out of the original 75 who received an opportunity to suit up and compete did not take the opportunity for granted.
Lakeith Smith expressed gratitude for Robinson and Armstrong’s effort in giving young people an outlet, even if it meant meeting them where they are to help see them strive.
“She is really like the foundation. As long as we stayed out of trouble, she wanted to be a part of it, said Smith.
“She had a summer school program, and he [Lucas Armstrong] used to come up there and I guess he saw us play one day and wanted to start a team.”
Smith later went on to become the first recipient of a scholarship award worth $500 under YBL.
After one team started up in 2016, even more began to sprout under the league. The league name was titled “Youth Basketball Association”, until Armstrong’s arrival.
“I grew up in it,” said Armstrong, on his early experiences in YBA.
The Pine Bluff native later returned with a new approach that prioritizes community, looking to help strengthen the league.
“When I looked at it the first year, it had gone down. We didn’t have that many kids. When we took it over that first year, and we brought it back up instantly. I brought the community in, and that’s how we started to build the league back up.”
Under Armstrong, the league leaned more into community and displayed acts of gratitude to those who may or may not even support.
Outreach efforts, as well as additional acts of kindness started to spread across Pine Bluff as the league continued to grow.
“We started doing back-to-school events, honor programs where we recognize those who came before us,” said Armstrong.
Since 2017, under his leadership, YBL has remained a basketball hub for youth who have went on to continue playing after their time is up.
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As Amstrong’s time with YBA/YBL reaches a decade, he desires to introduce a new tool that millions of people across the U.S. can access and launch their own youth sports league.
Structured as an immersive, innovative resource for an aspiring coach or league owner, the Playbook Academy has a slew of information offered in a layout for users to learn at their own pace.
“My goal is to go around the United States speaking and helping build communities through the youth sports industry.”
Launched in November of 2025, the Community Playbook Academy offers online courses that youth sports organizations of all sizes can benefit from.
It is subscription based, priced at $65 a month.
Aside from the modules, online lessons will be provided every week on how to build a sports organization.
“It covers everything I’ve done over the last 10 years. There are people out there who aspire to help kids through sports, but don’t know how just like I didn’t know at one point,” said Armstrong.
YBL’s impact on athletes have carried over to those who also feel the need to provide tools and guidance — a new generation of individuals aiming to push youth athletics to greater heights in Pine Bluff.
“It’s basically showing you step by step how to create your organization, how to get it under a non-profit, and really show you how important it is to develop the talent within the league,” said Ryan Hayes, a mentee under Armstrong.
“In order for you to put a product out, and for people to be receptive to that product, you have to sacrifice and give time which is what we do now to train these kids.”
Hayes, through the mentorship of Armstrong, started his own training organization for youth, called the Dribble Academy.
When asked what’s the best approach to help push youth development in sports, Hayes emphasized engagement.
“You have to be hands on with it, which requires sacrificing a lot of your time. So with me being alongside him when he was creating the playbook, I’m actually seeing what is on paper, but what’s actually in reality as well.”
