There’s a new league in town. While this league might not be as competitive as some of the other leagues that call the Sarasota-area home—it lacks the notoriety of the upper levels of the Florida High School Athletic Association, the talent level of baseball’s Florida State League and the panache of the Sarasota Paradise’s United Soccer League 2—one could argue that it is just as critical to the athletic ecosystem of Sarasota, albeit in a different way than what one might expect. On March 29, CAPS Athletics Inc. kicked off the inaugural season of its Jr. NBA/WNBA League.

CAPS Athletics is a not-for-profit community outreach organization that is dedicated to uplifting the lives of youths in the area through athletic programming. The organization’s acronym, which was started by four educators and basketball coaches, stands for Courage, Ascension, Perseverance and Strength, and will serve children primarily in the 7-14 age range. In its first season, the organization fielded four teams of boys and girls all named after different NBA franchises: the Charlotte Hornets, the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. This Saturday, May 17, the Hornets and the Heat will face off in the championship game at the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences.

“I can’t help but smile when I think about this league,” says director Carl Williams, one of the four founders of the league. “We want to show families that we care about their kids and want to see them be successful.”

Some of the ways that Williams—who is the assistant principal at the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences and stepped down from his role as Booker High’s boys basketball coach earlier this year—and the team show they care is through keeping costs low for families. Registration for the league is $140, with a single household never paying more than $450, and a flurry of incentives lower costs throughout the year. In return, children are trained by experienced coaches in the fundamentals of the game, but are uplifted by those around them, creating lasting memories and a strong foundation in the sport of basketball.

“It’s such a tremendous joy to have fun and coach these kids,” says Williams. “There’s one day a week, separate from game day, where we have an optional practice and work on specific skills. We want to create memories for these children.”

Jr. NBA Finals Championship, May 17, 11:30am, 717 Central Ave, Sarasota. Registration is open for the 2025 Fall season.