Excitement filled the air at Irwin Hall on February 8 as more than 480 boys and girls under the age of 14 gathered for the launch of the sixth edition of the LAU Jr. NBA League. This year, the tournament includes 10 girls’ teams from schools and 30 boys’ teams from clubs and sports academies across Lebanon, who will compete over the next four months wearing official NBA jerseys.

The girls’ teams draft event featured the Captain of the Lebanese Women’s National Team Rebecca Akl, who urged the young girls to “give their all to the game, to put themselves out there and to play with confidence.” Perseverance and training, she said, are key.

LAU Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management Elise Salem pointed to the university’s roots as a college for empowering women through education, noting how this part of its mission continues to endure. “We are so delighted that this is the second year that we host the LAU Jr. NBA for women, and we are looking forward to how this season is going to unfold,” she said.

Speaking at the boys’ draft event, Dean of Students on the Beirut campus Raed Mohsen drew a comparison between competition in sports and in life, both of which are rooted in ethics. “Very much like life off the court, basketball is about working with others and not alone, since the game—just like life —is a clean fight,” he said.

Star athlete and Beirut Club Team Captain Sergio Darwish echoed those thoughts. “Basketball, like any team sport, is a fantastic teacher as it is about learning life’s more important lessons such as discipline, teamwork and leadership,” he said. “These are the skills that will serve you well both on and off the court.”

Thrilled by the turnout, President of the Lebanese Basketball Federation Akram Al Halabi said that his “heart was full seeing the young, eager basketball enthusiasts fill the auditorium.” Their presence, he added, goes to show how basketball endures as Lebanon’s most popular sport.

For LAU Director of Athletics Joe Moujaes, who is also the mastermind behind securing the Jr. NBA franchise, the values of the NBA constitute a motivational building block for young athletes, who will benefit well from taking part in a tournament that is being held under very high international standards. He offered sincere gratitude to the participating schools, clubs and academies, as well as to the LAU leadership, volunteer student athletes and staff whose dedication exemplifies the university’s longstanding commitment to youth sports in Lebanon.