The community’s longest-running youth basketball league will have a new home and a fresh look when it eventually gets underway in 2021. Known for decades as the Hopkinsville-Christian County Youth Basketball League, Junior Pro at the Plex — a regional hoops opportunity for boys and girls, from first grade to sixth grade — is moving under the singular roof of the Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex Hopkinsville.
The league will be open to local elementary students, as well as surrounding counties and cities. Originally slated for its traditional Thanksgiving start, and initially scheduled to run from November to January, the revamped youth basketball league has been postponed indefinitely, due to local and statewide recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers hope to announce the official registration dates in the coming months.
The former HCCYBL was played on Saturdays at various gyms around Christian County. Junior Pro at the Plex, however, will offer all games and practices, on both weekends and weeknights, and is looking to apply changes that will improve the quality across all facets.
Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex Facility Coordinator Tony Henson says they respect the precedence of HCCYBL and the history it has in our community, but they are very excited about the potential and possibilities that exist by bringing Junior Pro at the Plex to their facility.
An adoption of the USA Basketball Youth Basketball rules as a template for league regulations will be one of the hallmarks of the new and improved 5-on-5 league.
Junior Pro at the Plex will also eliminate required team/player fundraisers, seek to offer scholarships and work to make the league an attractive and affordable opportunity for all interested parties. HCCYBL’s previous Board of Control will join designated delegates to create a Junior Pro at the Plex Advisory Board, but the Sportsplex will assume all planning and communicative responsibilities related to the youth league.
HCCYBL Board President C.J. Brewer states Junior Pro is excited about our new collaboration with the Sportsplex, to offer kids of Hopkinsville one of the best facilities in the state.
League cost and other details, as well as sponsorship opportunities, will be released at a later date.
