New Heights 12th annual team challenge shoot-a-thon featured on News12

Watch the two news features on our 12th Annual Team Challenge Shoot-A-Thon that aired on News12!

New Heights 12th annual team challenge shoot-a-thon featured on ny1

Take a look at the two news features from NY1 on our 12th Annual Team Challenge Shoot-A-Thon!

Carmelo Anthony surprises youth basketball practice ahead of McDonald’s All American Games in Brooklyn

Read more about Carmelo Anthony’s surprise visit to our facility ahead of the annual McDonald’s All-American game!

Knicks Legend Carmelo Anthony & McDonald’s surprise new heights student-athletes ahead of annual all-american game

Ahead of the annual McDonald’s All-American Game, which will be hosted in New Heights’ backyard this year at the Barclays Center, Carmelo Anthony and the team from McDonald’s stopped by to surprise our 5th grade teams with this year’s jerseys and some Happy Meals in anticipation of the matchup!

Take a look at the feature story below from ABC7 to get a glimpse at all the fun we had!

Summer program combines sports and STEM subjects

Get an inside look at our Summer Academy summer camp from NBC.

Kids shoot 100 free throws each during Brooklyn basketball fundraiser

Hear from some of our ELC Co-Chair Bryan Hurley and current 11U Girls player Amelia Edwards on the importance of Shoot-A-Thon.

Crown Heights Charity receives $1M award from MacKenzie Scott foundation Yield Giving

(NOTE: Originally published April 1st, 2024)

Learn more about the New Heights being selected as an awardee of MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call.

Reading and Sports: Interview with Sarah Girard of New Heights Youth

Read what our Education Manager Sarah Girard thinks about the BookPower Program and infusing reading into youth sports culture.

Plantiga’s wearable sensors seek better real-world biomechanics data to support female athletes

Learn how one of our girls teams is helping test and improve footwear technology for female basketball players.

Counslr Serves Up Mental Health Support for Student Athletes

Read more about our partnership with mobile app Counslr and how we intend to support the mental health of our student-athletes.

MacKenzie Scott’s ‘Yield Giving’ Awards $1 Million to New Heights Youth

Learn more about MacKenzie Scott’s $1 million donation to New Heights will help thousands of young people reach their potential.

BK Groups Gets $1M And More From Yield Giving Initiative

Learn more about MacKenzie Scott donating $1 million to New Heights to assist us in fulfilling our mission to educate and empower underserved youth.

NewYork-Presbyterian Announces More Than $3 Million in Grants to Improve Community Health

Learn more about how NewYork-Presbyterian will help New Heights continue to help improve community health in Crown Heights.

NY Liberty hosts basketball clinic for local youth

Take a look at the clinic the New York Liberty hosted at the New Heights facility.

New Heights Receives Prestigious Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Sports Award

RWJF Recognizes New Heights as a Sports Leader Building a Culture of Health

New Heights is thrilled to be one of ten organizations that have been selected as 2022 winners of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Sports Award.

Since 2015, this award has recognized professional sports teams, athletes, coaches, and community-based organizations that use sports to catalyze and sustain changes to make communities healthier places to live, learn, work, and play. RWJF lifts up organizations that bring a deep understanding of community needs and acknowledge the power of sports to connect us and make us healthier, no matter our race, gender, abilities, or economic background. This award program will be coming to a close this year.

Click here to see the announcement!

New Heights uses basketball as a “hook” to engage youth, help them access high quality educational opportunities, and instill in them the values and life skills that will prepare them for success in life beyond sports.

“On behalf of our Board, staff and especially our student-athletes, thank you to the RWJF for recognizing the important work we do at New Heights to help young people develop the academic and athletic skills to support physical and mental health throughout their lives. We are deeply honored to receive the RWJF Sports Award, which comes at a critical time as we expand our programs and our organization to ultimately reach thousands of additional youth and families in Brooklyn and throughout New York City.”

—Ted Smith, Executive Director

Are Super Seniors the Secret to N.C.A.A. Tournament Success?

Check out New Heights Associate Executive Director Adam Berkowitz, weighing in on the conversation.

Newsday TV: Kids ball with James Harden at the Nets' basketball academy

View video here.

Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden on Monday spoke about working with children as a basketball clinic. The adidas-sponsored event was hosted by Harden and the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy.

BK Reader: James Harden Hosts Basketball Clinic in BK to Celebrate Nets and Adidas Partnership

The Brooklyn Nets and Adidas announced a partnership geared at growing youth basketball

More than 130 young people flocked to Bedford Union Armory on Monday to get tips and tricks from Nets star James Harden.

The clinic was held in celebration of a new multiyear partnership between the Brooklyn Nets and Adidas that is centered around connecting with young people through basketball. The newly-named Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by Adidas aims to grow the game on a grassroots level throughout Brooklyn and beyond.

“This is something I’ve been missing in this last year and a half since the pandemic. Just to be in front of these kids means a lot to me,” Harden said.

“I was in their position, just a kid trying to figure out life and basketball helped me do that. Hopefully I can inspire them to be great.”

The youth academy was founded in 2016 and has since welcomed more than 30,000 kids to over 450 events while working with more than of 225 community partners, ultimately reaching 60,000 people, the Nets said.

As part of the partnership, Adidas will become the preferred merchandise and equipment provider for all of the academy’s programs and select James Harden adidas apparel will also be available for Nets fans to purchase in the team store.

John Abbamondi, CEO of Nets and Barclays Center parent company BSE Global, said the companies were “thrilled to advance our shared commitment to growing grassroots basketball through the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy.”

 “The Academy teaches children many important life lessons and yesterday’s clinic with James Harden was the beginning of our work with adidas to extend our community impact.”  

NBA.COM: James Harden Surprised Youth Players at Brooklyn Nets Clinic

View the full story here.

By Tom Dowd

NETS ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR BROOKLYN NETS BASKETBALL ACADEMY PRESENTED BY ADIDAS

The Brooklyn Nets came out to support James Harden and the launching of the newly named Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by adidas at a Monday afternoon clinic in Brooklyn.

Harden surprised the 130 youth basketball players in attendance with his appearance, drawing a wave of cheers as a welcome upon his arrival. He was joined by Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center CEO John Abbamondi, general manager Sean Marks, head coach Steve Nash, and assistant coaches Adam Harrington and Royal Ivey.

“I love doing this, and then obviously whatever we went through in the pandemic I kind of lost sight of all of it, but now just being back outside and letting these kids feel my energy, I’m all for it,” said Harden. “They’re young and just to be in their presence it’s an unbelievable feeling. They get to come and work hard and listen to their coaches and then I get an opportunity to step on the court and teach them a little thing here and there. What more can you ask for?”

Voice of the Nets Olivier Sedra served as MC for the event, tipping things off with a Q&A session with Abbamondi and then with Harden, who personally signed a pair of sneakers for the participants in the event’s shooting contest.

All in attendance received a Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by adidas t-shirt and a ticket to Tuesday night’s game at Barclays Center against the New York Knicks.

“I feel like the youth is the next generation and they’re very special,” said Harden. “They need guidance. They need help. I feel like it’s part of my job to dish that out. Whatever way I can, whether it’s academies like this or other ways, just trying to dish the experience and the knowledge I have, dish out that hope. If I can try to put some hope in these kids, I feel like I’ve done my job.”

Nets Daily: James Harden takes to Brooklyn gym to initiate Nets-Adidas youth partnership

View and listen to the full story here.

To celebrate the launch of a partnership between the Nets and adidas, the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy and James Harden hosted a clinic for more than 130 youth from six community organizations Monday at the Carey Gabay Recreational Complex not far from Barclays Center.

“This is something I’ve been missing in this last year and a half since the pandemic. Just to be in front of these kids means a lot to me,” said Harden. “I was in their position, just a kid trying to figure out life and basketball helped me do that. Hopefully I can inspire them to be great.”

He also tweeted out his excitement...

The Nets guard led a contingent of Nets staffers to the cavernous gym, part of the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, the former Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights.

He was joined by Nets CEO John Abbamondi, Sean Marks, Steve Nash, and assistant coaches Adam Harrington Royal Ivey and announcer Olivier Sedra.

Harden and teammates Cam Thomas, Bruce Brown and Day’Ron Sharpe all have personal endorsement deals with adidas.

Harden, now in his second season with Brooklyn, had been heavily involved with community efforts in Houston before the global pandemic hit and he was traded to the Nets. The partnership is another indication that the relationship between team and player remains strong. Harden is eligible for an extension come July,

The Nets and adidas multi-year partnership will be centered on growing the youth academy. The newly named “Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by adidas” will have the support of the global sports and lifestyle brand in a variety of ways, according to a statement released by BSE Global, the Nets parent company.

As part of the deal, adidas will become the preferred merchandise and equipment provider for all of the Academy’s programs. Select James Harden adidas apparel will also be available for Nets fans to purchase in the team store, Brooklyn Fanatics, at Barclays Center. Additionally, adidas and the Nets will create customized digital content featuring Harden and his future adidas Basketball footwear.

Julia Smith, who has three decades of coaching experience, has been a Head Clinician with the Academy for the last three years.

“They get really pumped,” said Smith of the kids that participate throughout the year. “It’s always pleasing to me. To get a kid that doesn’t play basketball and doesn’t get discouraged and didn’t give up, 100 percent those are the things that make our day.”

The Academy was founded in 2016 and since then it has welcomed more than 30,000 kids to over 450 events while working with upwards of 225 community partners, ultimately reaching 60,000 people.

“We are thrilled to partner with adidas and advance our shared commitment to growing grassroots basketball through the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy,” said Abbamondi. “The Academy teaches children many important life lessons and yesterday’s clinic with James Harden was the beginning of our work with adidas to extend our community impact.”