LAU Athletics has successfully concluded the seventh edition of the Jr. NBA League for boys and the third for girls, which kicked off on February 14 and closed on June 14, 2026, at the Carlos Slim Stadium in Byblos.

Nearly 600 participants donned the NBA jerseys, with 30 boys’ teams (U14) from academies and clubs and 13 girls’ teams (U14) from schools across the country. On LAU campus courts and the Michel Sleiman Sports Complex, the league connected participants with mentors, including 100 coaches and administrative staff from LAU and the Lebanese National Basketball Federation.

LAU Lead Director of Athletics Joe Moujaes asserted the sustained growth of the program at the university, amid increasing demand from more schools, clubs, and academies to participate. “The electrifying energy at the finals demonstrates how firmly established this program has become on Lebanon’s youth sports agenda.”

He added that LAU aims to create more opportunities for young athletes to join the program, through further expanding the girls’ division and enhancing the experience for participants, coaches, as well as partner schools, clubs, and academies.”

In the boys’ league, the Brainers Academy, representing the Detroit Pistons, won the title following an intense game with Al Riyadi, who represented the Minnesota Timberwolves. Aintoura Academy placed third, wearing the New York Knicks jerseys, having triumphed over Cougars Academy, who simulated the Houston Rockets.

As for the girls’ league, the championship cup went to Collège Frères Maristes-Jbeil, who represented the Connecticut Sun, having faced off at the final with the Antonine Sisters School team, who donned the Chicago Sky jerseys. In third place, the Collège Notre Dame-Louaize team, simulating New York Liberty, won over Collège St. Joseph-Aintoura, who played under the Indiana Fever banner.

Individual awards were also given at the finals, as follows:

Boys’ Division

• Top five players: Ryan Moukawam, Chris Hajj, Anthony Machaalani, Anwar Abi Farraj, and Gabriel Abou Serhal
• Most Valuable Player: Karim Saoud
• Skills Challenge Winner: George Zahran
• Three-Point Contest: Alex Jountoyan
• Dunk Contest Winner: Ralph Selwan

Girls’ Division

• Top five players: Sara Choucair, Serena Mezher, Thea-Maria Parseghian, Teresa Osta, and Sacha Khoury
• Most Valuable Player: Karlie Bassil
• Skills Challenge Winner: Jane Hassoun
• Three-Point Contest: Perla Itani