After-School Basketball League Hopes to Build Bridge

It may sound unorthodox but John "Whitey" Moynihan and Stephon Cherry decided the best way to tackle a problem was to create a dilemma.

To address a gap between Worcester middle schools and the city's high schools in the area of basketball progression and development, Cherry enlisted the passion and influence of Moynihan in an effort to give life to Cherry's vision of establishing an organized after-school basketball program.

It's long been known — perhaps not openly discussed for fear of being interpreted as excuse-making, but known — that Worcester public high schools are at a disadvantage compared to other schools in the area that run feeder programs for young players as part of a path to varsity competition.

Another reality is that athletes from the city often do not have the means to play on travel teams or AAU basketball teams that can foster talent development like their competitors from other school districts.

Not only do those obstacles lead to lost games, but they also lead to

lost student-athletes — as in kids who take their hoops talents elsewhere beginning in ninth grade because they're disconnected from their neighborhood high school programs.

Cherry, who helped lead a resurgence of the North High girls' basketball team during his tenure, and Moynihan, a proud lifelong city resident, business leader and former Holy Cross athlete had seen enough.

"When I first came to North, I noticed some kids with talent, but also a lot of kids who were behind in fundamentals," said Cherry, who was a star player growing up in New York City. "A big reason for that is because there is not a 'feeder system' and there weren't many outlets where kids could develop and become part of a culture

lost student-athletes — as in kids who take their hoops talents elsewhere beginning in ninth grade because they're disconnected from their neighborhood high school programs.

Cherry, who helped lead a resurgence of the North High girls' basketball team during his tenure, and Moynihan, a proud lifelong city resident, business leader and former Holy Cross athlete had seen enough.

"When I first came to North, I noticed some kids with talent, but also a lot of kids who were behind in fundamentals," said Cherry, who was a star player growing up in New York City. "A big reason for that is because there is not a 'feeder system' and there weren't many outlets where kids could develop and become part of a culture at a young age, where they dream about playing high school ball for their public high school."

Cherry approached Moynihan about advocating for a public schools-based basketball league for middle school athletes and Moynihan was quick to jump on board.

"My goal in this was to create a dilemma," Moynihan said. "If kids have the chance to interact with the high school coaches and get to know them personally, as mentors, and become part of a culture, it won't be as easy for parents and kids to just simply leave after eighth grade. They'll believe in the programs in the city and consider the positives that can come from sports."

Moynihan is not one for idle talk and fluffy ideas. His own sons, Quinn and Connor, had the means to attend private school but, as a family — Moynihan's wife Ellen is the principal at West Tatnuck Elementary — it was decided that both would attend Burncoat, where the siblings were standout three-sport student-athletes.

"I love Worcester, I'm from here, and I feel the responsibility to make a commitment to my city," Moynihan said. "We're dealing with an opioid problem, we're legalizing marijuana and we have kids with nowhere to go. We're creating the perfect storm for kids to find trouble, and I'm not happy about that. There's a chance to give these kids an outlet through sports."

Moynihan put up his own money to help start "City Hoops," an after-school basketball program offered to boys and girls at Worcester middle schools this spring.

It's a pilot, funded by Moynihan and facilitated by Recreation Worcester and Worcester Public Schools and, thus far, it's shown promise toward the goal of eventually restoring middle school athletic programs.

Moynihan praised city officials, including City Manager Edward M Augustus Jr. and Superintendent of Schools Maureen Binienda, but, in exchange for his generosity, Moynihan said he wanted something in return.

"I want buy-in," he said. "I want the city's leadership to commit — to really commit — to creating an infrastructure around programs like this so they can succeed and they can be sustainable. I fully understand the budget challenges, but this isn't about money. If this is beneficial to the kids and helps to keep great kids and families in the public schools, the community will find the money (the schools) need."

Moynihan pulls no punches when it comes to his thoughts on the importance of middle school sports and the commitment needed to implement a program.

"We need the high school coaches to get involved, to be around these kids from the sixth grade on so they can build relationships with kids through sports," he said. "I tell it like it is and there are people who like that and people who don't, but this is only going to work if there is a real commitment from everyone involved."

Augustus and city officials view City Hoops as a long-term investment.

"The City Hoops program is an important investment that we must make in our youth," Augustus said. "By providing positive adult role models and healthy activities that don't cost families any money we're creating a program that not only benefits our youth now, but puts them on a positive life path for many years to follow."

The program, which is essentially an intramural league of Worcester middle schools and features volunteer coaches, has about 100 kids. Cherry's goals are loftier — he thinks it can grow to an opportunity for 500 students or more in the next few years.

"This is deeper than basketball," Cherry said. "Our goal right now is to enable people to understand the positive effect this program can have on kids so that it can grow. The kids can connect earlier with high school coaches so the coaches become mentors. That can help the city retain student-athletes.

"We shouldn't be ashamed to say that sports as a platform can do a lot to raise the profile of a school and make the schools more appealing and more competitive. It's easy to leave if you don't feel part of something bigger."

Cherry, who is part of close-knit and supportive group of high school basketball coaches and supporters within the city, believes the efforts to start City Hoops will pay dividends.

"Some kids will still leave, sure, but we want to build a culture where parents will consider trusting that their kids can have a great experience in our public schools, academically and athletically, and, some of these kids will be able to use their athletic ability as a way to go to college," he said.

Contact Tom Flanagan at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @tgsports

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