Young basketballers buzzed with energy at Irwin Hall on February 14 as they convened for the launch of the seventh edition of the Jr. NBA League. The draft event brought together more than 550 boys and girls from all across the country.

This year, the tournament will feature 30 boys’ teams alongside 13 girls’ teams who, representing their schools and clubs, will compete over the next several weeks donning official NBA jerseys.

Through its partnership with the NBA, LAU continues to bring the league’s core values, such as teamwork, respect, inclusion and excellence, to young athletes in Lebanon, using basketball as a platform for learning both on and off the court.

 “The more you play sports, you don’t just get physically stronger, you become better skilled,” said LAU Director of Athletics Joe Moujaes, emphasizing how athletes gain crucial skills such as communication, leadership, perseverance and teamwork.

Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management and Dean of Students Raed Mohsen highlighted the deeper purpose of sports beyond competition. “When we talk about basketball or any sport, we are reminded of collaboration and the team spirit,” he said.

This year’s draft event featured special guests Amar Mansour, a current LAU student and rising star on Lebanon’s Women’s National Team, and Elie Chamoun (BE ’18), a member of the Men’s National Team, who shared insights from their athletic careers.

Mansour spoke about perseverance and discipline following a difficult national team loss. “That moment taught me that you have to show up no matter what you’re feeling,” she said. “Basketball will open many doors for you, but discipline is what will get you through them.”

Chamoun drew from his own experience of balancing academics, competition and recovery from injury. “There will be challenging times for everyone—that’s life,” he said. “Basketball teaches us that if we miss a shot, we can make another one; if we lose, we can always come back from it; if we get injured, we can always recover.”

Throughout the event, speakers reminded participants that while winning is part of the game, the league’s broader mission is to cultivate leadership and character. “We don’t expect you all to become champions; we expect you to become leaders,” Moujaes told the young players, stressing that lessons learned through sport will support them throughout their academic and professional lives.