Old Dominion University’s basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 22 featured the Simon Family JCC Youth Basketball League during halftime. The popular JCC basketball youth league, now more than 60 years old, played on the ODU home court to an entertained crowd that cheered with every play. The kids hustled up and down the court giving their all. When a basket was made, the crowd went wild – sounding even louder than during the college game itself. The JCC kids put on a good show and most importantly had fun.
The Simon Family JCC has a rich tradition with area basketball going all the way back to when the Virginia Squires (former professional ABA team) used the JCC on Newport Avenue as a practice facility in the early 1970s. The Virginia Squires had some great Hall of Fame legands such as Julius “Dr. J” Erving and George “Iceman” Gervin.
On any basketball practice or game day at the Simon Family JCC, there might be a future star in the making. The evening of Feb. 22, however, they were ALL Stars.