Competitive Youth Basketball Comes to NYC Parks with the Jr. Knicks League

This winter, nearly 1,000 kids from around the city got a jump on their jump shot with the Millennium Basketball Winter League, which fields four divisions: Co-Ed 8 - 10, Boys and Girls 11 - 13, and Boys 14 - 16.

"From pick-up games at our public courts, to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, New York City is the basketball capital of the world," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Parks & Recreation is thrilled once again that Madison Square Garden and the Jr. Knicks League are sponsoring Millennium Winter Basketball. Congratulations to all of our teams that have competed in this championship tournament."

The Millennium Basketball Winter League is sponsored by the Jr. Knicks League, presented by Sprite and Foot Locker. In the 2011 season, a total of 95 teams were formed, from the Harlem Knights to Team Tar Heels. These teams met every week to practice - perfecting their shooting, dribbling and handling skills. The top two teams in the league made it to the Citywide Championship, held at Al Smith Recreation Center in Manhattan, on Saturday, March 26. The winning Recreation Center teams this year were: 8-10 co-ed division: St. John's; 11-13 boys: St. James; 11-13 girls: Lost Battalion Hall; and 14-16 boys: St. James-Hunts Point.

Last year, teams from Brooklyn dominated the championship. Sunset Recreation Center won both the 11-13 boys and 14-16 boys divisions while the 11-13 girls team from St. John's won the girls division. The 8-11 co-ed team from St. John's got second place to the Harlem Jazz team by one point.