By Jack Peatross

What comes to your mind when you hear, “NCLHBA?” Not many people know what this acronym means, what it is, or might not even care enough to question it, but to 36 high schoolers in Winston-Salem, it means a lot.

   NCLHBA is an acronym that is short for, “North Carolina Low Hoop Basketball Association.” It is a low hoop basketball league that was created by three RJ Reynolds High School students: Fred Bland, Anson Walldorf, Jack Peatross, and their Younglife leader Colson Streitmatter and played over the summer.

   “Colson, Jack, Anson, and I went to Chick-Fil-A after Younglife club one time and had the idea of starting it up. We made all the rules and guidelines right then and there and made it happen.” junior founder Fred Bland said.

   NCLHBA is a three on three basketball league that is played on eight and a half foot rims and consists of 12 teams with two divisons of 18 players each, where each team plays six regular season games and has a chance to win the playoffs. At first, the four founders thought it was not going to become anything serious, just something fun for all of their friends to do this summer, but it became to be something more. NCLHBA was featured in a national Younglife magazine.

   “I didn’t know the league (NCLHBA) was going to be a success,” Junior Fred Bland said, “I didn’t even think we would be able to get it running, but having the league in a magazine was pretty sweet.”

   This summer, multiple RJR students participated in the league and said it was the highlight of their summer.

   “NCLHBA was a fun league where I got to meet and hangout with new friends while playing competitive low hoop basketball,” junior Gavin Becker stated.

    In addition to the regular season and  post-season playoffs, the league also had an “All-Star Weekend” complete with a dunk contest, a three point contest and an all-star game. Even though it was supposed to be just for fun and games  got very competitive.

    “I had a great time in the all-star game,” senior Sammy Gray said. “I didn’t know the league and the all-star game was going to be competive, but that made the league fun this summer.”

   As well as a summer league NCLHBA will also be holding a fall league called, “NCLHBA Fall Classic.” The league will be expanding the number of players in the league from 36 to 48. A lot of summer players are excited about the fall league that will be on November 10th, and the 17th.

   “I’m excited for the fall league,” Senior Joe White said. “I can’t wait to show everyone how hard I’ve been working for it.”

   NCLHBA has given high schoolers something to look forward to and has given the students a great enviroment full of friends, basketball, and dunks.

Photo provided by NCLHBA Twitter