Kings of Court basketball league returns with bigger participation

After a pandemic-related pause last season, the Kings of Court basketball league is back and better than before.

The league, headquartered at the Roy Hunt Elementary School in Arnold, has grown to 10 teams with rosters of 10 per team.

“We had to take a year off last summer, and we’ve got a lot more competitive players,” said organizer Ian Benson, a 2006 Valley graduate who helped create the league in 2018.

What’s unique about the league is h team is composed of diversified age groups. A high school player can be on the same team as an adult in his 30s.

“There are no divisions,” Benson said. “We found a high school player gets a lot more confidence against older players.”

One example is Burrell standout Brandon Coury, who finished his junior season with a spot on the Valley News Dispatch all-star second team.

“For me, this is fun, and it’s made me a better player,” Coury said. “There’s more physical contact, and there’s a lot I can learn.”

A teammate of Coury’s is Steven Ross, a 2004 Valley graduate.

“I think it’s good to have a league like this where I can stay in shape,” said Ross. “At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, I want to stay in condition.”

Ross was part of a Valley team that went 20-6 in 2004 and beat Blackhawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs before losing a heartbreaker, 77-75, to Thomas Jefferson.

The league generally plays on Thursdays at what was once the Arnold High School gymnasium, but it also has used the facility on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“I want to make sure everyone can get a team out,” Benson said. “I don’t want to see any forfeits.”

The league will determine a champion later in August.

Fans can see some of the best high school talent in Western Pennsylvania in Arnold such as Brandon Davis, a rising junior guard from Laurel Highlands. Davis was ranked by one recruiting service as the No. 11 sophomore in the state before last season started.

North Catholic’s Kyle Tipinski of New Kensington was on hand Thursday night, ready for action if called on. Tipinski, however, appears headed for football with reported scholarship officers as a linebacker from Toledo and Bowling Green.

Coury has been joined by Burrell teammate Donovan Callahan.

“This is a great mix of guys, and we’re blessed to have them here,” Benson said. “Basketball can touch so many people. Bringing some of those guys to the New Ken area is pretty cool.”

Added Ross: “There’s been a lot of good competition this year.”

Benson is contemplating a fall league for those at the elementary and junior high level.