The Enterprise Parks and Recreation Department (EPRD) will tip off a new program this basketball season by joining the Jr. NBA program.

The Jr. NBA program is the official youth basketball participation program of the NBA and aims to teach youth ages 6-14 the fundamentals of the sport while instilling core values including teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.

“We are excited to join the Jr. NBA program and take our current basketball program to the next level,” EPRD Superintendent Blake Moore said. “We understand the importance of creating a positive youth sports experience and we believe this Jr. NBA program will offer additional benefits not just for our players, but for our coaches as well.”

This season will be the first to feature WNBA jerseys and team names.

“We are proud to offer girls the ability to wear the same jerseys as some of the current big names in women’s basketball like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. This is huge for the girls who participate in our program. We hope that our 8U and 12U leagues will grow because of it.”

Moore said the Jr. NBA program affiliation is the first of its kind for parks and recreation in Alabama.

“EPRD is thankful to have the support of Izell Reese and the team of RCX Sports, which was instrumental in securing this new affiliation.  Izell has been such a champion of our programs ever since we met years ago in Orange Beach and has helped create new opportunities to grow youth sports in Enterprise.”

RCX Sports offers experiential youth sports opportunities in collaboration with major professional sports leagues. In addition to its Jr. NBA program, RCX partners with other professional leagues to offer programs such as NFL FLAG, NHL STREET, MLB Pitch, Hit & Run and Jr. Home Run Derby. Each of its youth programs is designed to empower youth athletes of all backgrounds to “Play with the Pros.”

“As a proud Dothan native, I’m thrilled to bring Jr. NBA back home to southeastern Alabama, an area near to my heart,” said Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports. “Our mission is to improve accessibility and inclusivity for youth sports around the country, so it’s important and encouraging to have the opportunity to enhance youth sports in my own backyard. I’m grateful to our partners at the EPRD and City of Enterprise for helping build a pathway to develop and engage more youth athletes in Enterprise.”

As part of the Jr. NBA affiliation, EPRD will utilize instructional curriculum to enhance the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. The curriculum includes a holistic approach, intended to strengthen the culture of youth basketball, teach life lessons and empower youth to live a healthy life.

Last season, more than 550 youth participated in EPRD’s basketball program.  Registration for the upcoming season is scheduled October 2-13. Parents and guardians may register their athletes in person at the Enterprise Civic Center or online. More information will be released next month.