Rooted in Community
“The league is special because it is made up of people from all different walks of life – different races, religions, ethnicities, and professions.”
Being rooted in community can mean something different to each individual that engages with our JCC. Early childhood families support one another on their parenting journeys. Mah jongg players form new friendships over the clicking tiles. But for a select group of athletes, there is no better community than the one that is formed on the basketball court at the JCC.
The adult basketball league at the JCC, affectionately named JBA by the players, is a community that extends beyond the court. Each year, the league welcomes veterans and rookies alike to compete on Sunday mornings from November to March. This past year, 72 members took to the floor to compete, sweat, and trash talk during their favorite time of year.
JCC Member Damius Alexander tagged along to watch his dad, Sam, play in the league almost 30 years ago, and now he is a 12-year veteran in how own right. He believe that being a part of this league has made an impact on his life both on and off the court. “Being around that group of people at a young age helped me learn how to read rooms as an adult,” shared Damius. “I have also benefitted from lifelong advice from these guys. It’s just like being on the golf course. The other players have offered me insights into investments, real estate, stocks…you can even get legal advice from the lawyers among us.”
Damius participates in the annual draft night, which is a favorite tradition for captains and other longtime participants in the league to gather over food and drinks. The JCC Recreation staff help prepare scouting reports and record the selections as captains draft players in six rounds. Damius loves that they have this chance to come together in a relaxed setting to kick off a new season.
Throughout the season, players are consistently referenced by their draft round in the playful banter that goes back and forth between the players. This year, fifth-rounder Jamie Miller even invited league veterans to his podcast after draft night to make predictions for the season ahead. Any listener can see how much these players truly know and love one another, even through the teasing and intense evaluations of each other’s talents.
As a first-round pick, Damius is always ready for the heated competition on the court. But he also places a lot of value on the sense of family, brotherhood, and fellowship that he has found through their shared love of the game. “The league is special because it is made up of people from all different walks of life – different races, religions, ethnicities, and professions,” he said. “Sharing that kind of cultural awareness with one another allows us to learn more about people and create more peace in our community.”
