Kings of the Court league offers chance for young players to learn basketball

After a successful run last summer with the Kings of the Court adult basketball league, organizer Ian Benson thought it might be nice to see how many youngsters were interested in such an endeavor.

Answer: The response was overwhelming.

About 120 youths, ages 5 to 14, are coming out on Sunday nights to learn the game and to scrimmage at the Roy A. Hunt Elementary School gym where the Arnold High School Lions once roared.

“Nearly half the participants are girls,” Benson said. “It’s amazing to see all these players. Honestly, I’m surprised so many are out. It’s a blessing.”

Benson is assisted by former Valley High School coach Mark Faulx, Justin Lookabaugh, Zack Ziemianski, Tonya Pryor, Darwin Banks, Shawn Demharter, Jay Patrick and current Burrell standouts Brandon Coury and Donovan Callahan.

Benson assisted Faulx on the Valley staff.

“We want all of them to learn the game early,” Benson said. “By the time they get to high school, it’s too late.”

Benson, a 2006 Valley High School graduate, learned the game early himself, playing under his father, Vikings coach Vern Benson. Ian Benson was the East MVP in the 2005 Cager Classic at Highlands High School with 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

He is hoping to tutor some future Cager Classic participants.

“The biggest thing is we wanted the kids to have something to do, someplace to go and to stay out of trouble,” Ian Benson said. “We start off with drills, then split up into 3-on-3s and 2-on-2s.”

The program was also cost effective: $20 per person. Benson said much of the cost was for a jersey recognizing participation.

Benson plans to operate the program through the end of January. He got the idea through his participation in the Gosby “Goose” Pryor youth league summer program operated for a number of years in the New Kensington area. The league was founded, in large part, by attorney Korry Greene, a Valley High graduate.

“I played in it as a kid, and it meant so much to me,” Benson said.

Pryor was a key member of Valley’s 1979 state championship team, averaging 22 points per game. He later went on to Gannon, where he remains No. 9 all-time in career scoring with 1,449 points.