With basketball coming to a close, many local basketball players are looking for a decent court to play on. Luckily for them, nearby Washington Irving Middle School provides that court through their Teen Center program.
Teen Center is designed to give kids a place to go after school to do homework, play games and, most importantly to most Teen Center goers, a place to play ball. Basketball is by far the most popular sport offered by the Teen Center staff and it’s usually the only activity being run.
Although the games are essentially just for fun, Teen Center actually fosters a competitive atmosphere. Players get their “fives” together and call the next game available, as the winner of each game stays to play again.
“Because you have to be picked up by a team to play, it encourages you to get better so that you get more playing time,” said freshman Derek McMahon. “You don’t want to go to sit on the sidelines for two hours.”
Don’t get the wrong idea. Nobody that invests their time in attending Teen Center sits out the whole time. To allow more games to be played at one time, the Teen Center supervisors opened up both gyms (one for middle schoolers and under, one for high schoolers). Anyone who shows up will get the chance to play if they want it.
While many of the participants are Varsity basketball players from their high schools (spanning those from the WS, Lee and South County areas), there is no age requirement to compete in the games. Many freshman and JV athletes as well as those who don’t play competitively at all participate as well.
“Teen Center helps you because you play guys older than you,” said freshman Eddie Kim. “Just the playing helps you improve because it’s a time to practice things that you need to get better at.”
Although many players play recreationally at Teen Center, the majority of participants are working to prepare for the next high school season.
It gives an invaluable opportunity for players to practice against strong athletes from other schools, which in turn prepares them for tryouts in November, and later playing against these same athletes in season.
“It keeps you involved with basketball so you don’t get rusty over the off-season,” said McMahon. “Because losing doesn’t matter as much, you can practice new moves and perfect them so you can use them in the real games.”
