Basketball for All
St. Petersburg Youth League Needs a Home By Abby Baker
ABBY BAKER
Grindhouse Coach Jason Murray comes to practice with his daughters, Rhiah and Lyric Murray. “Maybe they’ll take this over eventually,” Murray said.
Grindhouse Elite Club in St. Petersburg used to practice on a private court in a partnership with Elim Junior Academy School, but after COVID-19 shutdowns, those days are over. Currently, the youth basketball travel ball team practices at the Wildwood Recreation Center. It works, but the teams share space with other recreational teams, limiting them to a tiny spot of precious court space. “We wish we could be by ourselves,” said Assistant Coach Rick Oliver. “But no church, no basketball.” Still, the teams – sixth and eighth grade boys and girls, youth to 16 – practice weekly and trav-
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el throughout Florida to compete against other young recreation leagues. “Grindhouse has never had a gym, and with us having several teams, a home team would be a big help,” Coach Jason Murray said. In the meantime the players skirt around the outskirts of a community court. “Sometimes we practice inside; sometimes there’s no space at all, we go outside,” Oliver said. “We’re just hoping we can get Elim back.” On the Court The kids affectionately call Murray “J” while they weave up and down the busy court.
“I never had a good coach,” Murray said. “I hope I’m giving them what I didn’t have.” They may not have a permanent set of hoops, but that doesn’t stop players from ferociously practicing, dropping pushups in between routines. Murray, 34, also coaches junior varsity at Northeast High School Basketball. He stopped playing on a team in 11th grade, and started coaching. He’s been teaching basketball for 10 years, and seven of those have been as part of his nonprofit, run entirely on public donations, car washes and other fundraisers. “I don’t want them to think any-
theGabber.com | May 13, 2021 - May 19, 2021
