The Nashville Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) Academy is throwing a party on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 2-5 pm to celebrate the first anniversary of its new location and back-to-back AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) championship wins.
One year ago in Greensboro. N.C., the NYBA 7th grade boys, led by Nashville native and NYBA executive director and coach, David Keary, became the first team from Tennessee to win the AAU World Championship—then repeated that feat in Orlando this July as the 8th grade NYBA boys became the first team ever to win back-to-back championships.
Last November, the NYBA found a home in northwest Nashville at 2420 Batavia St. to continue the work it began in 2012 when it registered as a 501(c)(3) organization. Serving more than 2,000 youth annually and participating in local youth development and anti-violence initiatives, the academy has more than 50 alumni from it 2023 and 2024 classes currently playing college basketball.
“The goal of our celebration and fundraiser is to cover one year of facility rental costs for our building, where we host programming for mentorship, after-school programs, anti-violence camps, summer camps and more,” Keary said.
Vanderbilt University research biologist and team parent, Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, will provide the keynote address. Others scheduled to participate in a panel discussion include Nashville Fire Chief William Swann; Juvenile Court Clerk Lonnell Matthews; Dontae’ Jones, former 1st round NBA draft pick (New York Knicks and Boston Celtics); Penny Collins, head basketball coach, Tennessee State University; and reggae/country music star Roy ‘Gramps’ Morgan.
NYBA corporate sponsors include Dicks Sporting Goods; the Nashville Predators Foundation; Coca-Cola; CoreCivic; Land O’Frost, Jr. NBA; among others. The academy works closely with the Nashville Mayor’s Office and the Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office.
