Photo credit: Jameelah Johnson (@jameelahjNBA)
If you don’t know about the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL) you are missing out on Atlanta’s best kept secret. As stated on the AEBL website,
“We are a nonprofit organization that uses sport as a pathway out of poverty, with a goal of positively influencing youth through mentoring and community connections in under-resourced areas of metropolitan Atlanta. Our largest fundraiser and community engagement source is our pro-am summer league, which runs ten weeks and features local youth, city legends, professional stars and celebrities.”
Simply put the AEBL is a movement in Atlanta with a great cause and you should get familiar.
The league is littered with NBA stars such as Lou Williams, Paul Millsap, Jaylen Brown, Mike Scott, Shelvin Mack, and Josh Powell are just some of the names that the community can come out and watch free of charge. You never know who will pop up either, two years ago Kyrie Irving showed up and the put on a show.
This weekend Tre Young took to Instagram and put out a message that he should hit up the AEBL, to which his teammate John Collins replied that he was down to roll also.
Say no more
Doors opened at 3:45 and by 4:30 the high school gym was packed. Fans were treated to some good NBA match-ups as Denver Nuggets Forward Paul Millsap and the Los Angeles Lakers Kentavious Caldwell-Pope engaged in some good head to head battles. Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics ignited the crowd with the high flying dunks in the net game but the moment of the night belonged to Trae Young and John Collins.
As soon as the dynamic duo for the Hawks entered the gym you could hear the energy immediately change. They played in the final game of the evening and they put on a show. Stats don’t matter in summer league but for what it’s worth Collins finished with 41 and Trae put up 30.
Salute to Trae and John for coming through and bringing the energy to Atlanta’s best kept secret. The fans of Atlanta are in for a treat this season as these young Hawks continue to learn how to fly.
Shout out to Bria Janelle who does a great job hosting the games each year. She does an amazing job keeping the games entertaining and keeping the energy in the building going. Salute to the all the volunteers the communications staff and everyone involved, the work goes far beyond basketball.
Video courtesy of AEBL Hoops.
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