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Area Kids Shoot for the Stars in New Youth Basketball League

Director Kevin Corwin coaches the Charlotte Hornets. Provided photo.

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.




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Welcome to the archives of SRQ DAILY: Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning, produced by the team at SRQ Magazine. From this page, you will be able to view the most recent SRQ DAILY editions as well as search for a specific edition and keyword. The SRQ DAILY Business Edition runs on Mondays; the SRQ DAILY Philanthropy Edition publishes on Wednedsays; the SRQ DAILY Weekend Edition featuring arts and culture publishes on Fridays; and, the SRQ DAILY Perspectives Edition featuring op-eds, columns and letters publishes on Saturdays.

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This Week's SRQ DAILY Editions



Thursday Family and Recreation Edition – May 15, 2025

District Announces New Executive Director of Secondary Schools •  Sarasota Arts Nonprofit, Art 4 Change, Hosts First Student Art Show •  Free Kids Summer Beach Runs Return to County Beaches June 3 •  Help Clean up Bowlees Creek •  New College of Florida to Host Inaugural Sarasota-Manatee Talent Symposium •  Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Unveils Botanical Discovery •  Orioles Present All Faiths Food Bank With $47,000 From Ed Smith Stadium Raffle •  Child Protection Center Receives $85,000 to Support Therapy Programs During Disaster Recovery •  Barancik Foundation Awards $6 Million in Grants •  Area Kids Shoot for the Stars in New Youth Basketball League

Wednesday Philanthropy Edition – May 14, 2025

A Group of Guys with Giving Hearts •  Nominate a Peer for Top Doctors 2025 •  Bridging the Gap Organization to Honor Late Educator with Hero Award •  Two Local Boys and Girls Club Teens Earn Life-Changing College Scholarship to Duquesne •  Bradenton Rotary Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to the ELC's Spot On Program

Tuesday Dining and Food Edition – May 13, 2025

Dr. Joseph Holt to Retire as Artistic Director of Choral Artists of Sarasota •  Gecko's Grill and Pub Annual Iron Chef Competition •  180 Skate Summer Fundraiser •  The Wellness Space Brings Holistic Healing and Community to Waterside at Lakewood Ranch  •  HCA Florida Englewood Hospital Celebrates 40 Years of Service and Honors 2025 Award Winners  •  Holiday Favorite A Cappella Group Straight No Chaser Returns for Holiday Road Tour •  Sarasota County to Host Job Fair with Dedicated Hour for Veterans May 14 •  A Beachy Brunch at Whitney's

Monday Business Edition – May 12, 2025

Summer Teen Programs •  Historical Records Library Hosts Open House in Honor of the City of Bradenton's 122nd Anniversary •  BayCare Promotes Keri Eisenbeis to Expanded Role •  SCSO Corrections Training Academy Holds Graduation •  Avelo Airlines Announces New Seating Options •  Sarasota County Fire Department Internationally Recognized for Excellence in Emergency Cardiac Care •  The 2025 Sarasota County Heritage Awards Honor Local Excellence in Historic Preservation •  A Century of Compassion at Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System •  Del Webb Catalina's Lifestyle and Pickleball Event Draws a Crowd •  Meet The Honorees: The Young Professionals Summit 2025 •  Carlisle Inn Wins Second Consecutive Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award •  Michael Saunders and Company Celebrates Grand Reopening of Anna Maria Island Office •  Grant from Bishop-Parker Foundation Supports Goodwill Manasota's Pursuit of Education Program

Saturday Perspectives Edition – May 10, 2025

Tackling the Summer Slide One Child At A Time •  Hospitality, Served and Savored

Friday Weekend Edition – May 9, 2025

Two Class Acts Close Out the 2024-25 Concert Season •  Sarasota Art Museum Presents Lillian Blades: Through The Veil •  A Musical Tribute to Heroes: The Venice Symphony Celebrates The Greatest Generation •  Embracing Our Differences Appoints New Student Board Member •  The Ringling to Host Wonder: Art + Healing Symposium  •  Celebrate our George Harrison Exhibition at the Final Exhibition Evening of the Season •  Van Wezel Pauses Friday Fest for Summer of 2025 and Presents Fall Family Fest to Kick Off the 2025-2026 Season •  Florida Native Rob Langdon is Making His Mark On Country Music

Thursday Family and Recreation Edition – May 8, 2025

Starfish Academy's Summer Camp Program •  SCS Virtual Job Fair – May 13 •  Sarasota County Fire Department Achieves Gold-Tier Status in Florida Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program •  Celebrate Mother's Day with Paella •  FST's 2025 Summer Cabaret Series Opens with How Sweet It Is •  Music Compound at The Bazaar •  Free Suncoast Music Scholarship Winners Concert •  Florida Complex League May Events •  Investing at the Beginning: Bishop-Parker Foundation •  District Announces First-Ever Principal of Wellen Park High School •  Shred Some Waves at the Fifth Annual Spring Fling Skim Jam

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