19 hours Ago By [email protected] (James Bedford)
A leading youth basketball organisation is hoping to continue its growth after celebrating a six-year anniversary. Stamford Junior Knights has progressed from a small group of aspiring players to boasting its own half-court training facility for more than 150 youngsters. Since its founding in 2019, the Casterton Road Business Park-based club has provided a platform for young athletes to excel both on and off the court.
Adam Maddock, co-founder and coach of Stamford Junior Knights, commented: "This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our coaches, players, parents and supporters. "We are incredibly proud of what we've accomplished so far and we're excited to continue growing the club in the years to come, impacting more lives and providing even more opportunities for young athletes. "The club remains dedicated to its mission of empowering the next generation of basketball players through skill development, leadership training and fostering a love for the game.
"It has become a cornerstone of the local sports community, providing a platform for young athletes to excel both on and off the court." The club has teams competing at local level with encouragement to move on to the national league where relevant. Over the years, Stamford Junior Knights has helped hundreds of players develop their skills, form lifelong friendships, and become role models in their communities.
The club are currently busy getting ready for their upcoming Amateur Athletic Union tournament in Orlando which will see 10 players (years nine and 10) battle it out with teams from across North America and also have the invaluable opportunity to visit top college facilities in America. It is one of the highlights of the club’s achievements over the past six years which include a commitment to developing well-rounded athletes, more than 10 players moving on to play at National League level and putting on player development sessions for elite athletes with world renowned coaches from both inside and outside of the United Kingdom. Most recently, the club entered two Under 14 teams and one Under 16 team into the Cambridge Central Venue League.
All three teams showed huge growth over the season, both personally and as part of their teams. They took part in the competition as there is a lack of local events for gameplay which means the club is limited with opportunities and often have to travel upwards of an hour to enable teams to play in games. Alongside trying to encourage more local playing opportunities, Stamford Junior Knights are looking for support grants to replace two of their hoops to enable a better cross court experience during their sessions.
For more information about Stamford Junior Knights and upcoming events, or if you think you may be able to offer support/sponsorship, please visit www.sjkbasketball.com or follow on social media at Stamford Junior Knights.
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