Hoops and dreams of team as HQ opens
TO GIVE YOUTHS PLACE TO PLAY
THE Leicester Riders have launched a new base in Loughborough with the aim of getting young people off the streets, on to the basketball court and away from “doing knucklehead stuff”.
Hoops HQ has officially opened on Market Street, giving children access to top-of-the-range sporting facilities.
The space, which was formerly a Blockbusters store, has been decked out with a storefront that sells Riders merchandise, and at the back of the centre is a basketball court.
The experimental space will work at grassroots level to raise funds for the Leicester Riders Foundation, which works to cultivate future British basketball talent.
Russell Levenston, Leicester Riders managing director and Riders Foundation trustee, said: “For us, basketball is quite hard to access because of the lack of sports facilities and coaching, so bringing it into the town centre makes it really accessible.
“This place is focused more on smallsided games which you see a lot more at the Commonwealth games and the Olympics, and hopefully this will build on that interest.
“Hopefully this will change people’s lives and give them the opportunity and see where it goes from there.”
Darien Nelson-Henry, captain of the Leicester Riders team, said: “I think it’s great. Basketball is a growing sport in England, and seeing open spaces for kids to be able to come, play and shoot some hoops is amazing.
“A lot of my best friends growing up were athletes just like myself. Spaces like this will enable them to make new friends, create a community and meet like-minded people who share similar values.
“It will definitely be a place to come and hang out, get away from home and school and keep kids from doing knucklehead stuff – it’s a constructive and creative outlet for kids who maybe have nothing better to do.”
Rob Paternostro, above, head coach of the Leicester Riders, said: “I think anything like this is good for basketball.
“I love walking down the street here and seeing the HQ jump out at me.
“I’ve been in this country for a long time and been involved in basketball.
“We need more of these types of places to spread the word of this beautiful game.
“In this day and age, young people are always looking for something to do, and there are going to be plenty of opportunities at the HQ for people of all ages.”