Hello, from the team at DeenUP Athletics and BiggerThanBasketball :)

We focus on priority neighborhoods in the city, to build elite student-athletes.

In the two years since our inception, we’ve worked with 1500+ players through 13 clinics, 10 camps, 10 teams, and individual training programs. Among them, 20+ of our graduating players have received athletic scholarships and opportunities to play basketball at colleges and universities across Canada and in the U.S.

A milestone in September 2014, was when we opened the doors for the first BTB Prep program, in collaboration with Scadding Court Community Center and Central Toronto Academy. It was a place for players to develop academically and athletically, under the same roof. We're continuing BTB Prep in 2015 at John Polanyi C.I. in Lawrence Heights (Jungle) area.

Photos: First Top20 Camp, Jeremiah Brown's new poster, BTB Prep Squad at Central Toronto Academy, meeting between Coach Jovon and Patrick :)

What Do We Do?

Our vision is Bigger Than Basketball. Beyond development in sports: we're grooming the next generation of student-athletes to be role models for their communities.

By working in marginalized neighborhoods, the goal is to break down barriers for youth, build our collective skills, excel academically, and be resourceful enough to realize their potentials.

Photo: We start young, this was our first U13 team, Grade 8 and younger. Also Coach Jovon's first team!

What Have We Done?

From the 1500+ players we’ve worked with, we have played a role for more than 20 amazing athletes to play basketball at the next level. Through the athletic scholarships to colleges and universities, it is great to see them play across Canada (literally, from Camosun College in British Columbia to the University of New Brunswick) and in the U.S.

Since we’re limited with time and resources, it’s the community support that keeps us moving forward with Bigger Than Basketball (BTB) and DeenUP Athletics. Our reach continues to grow through word-of-mouth, with programs reaching Mississauga and Waterloo in the West to Scarborough and Ottawa in the East!

Photo: Ain't no training like Coach Babs' training! Our guys Yusuf 'Rhino' Ali (PG, Brock University) and Hussein 'Bynum' Egal (F, University of New Brunswick) can tell you that!

How Did It Start?

Few winters ago, we came together to create a positive impact in our community using our collective basketball expertise, youth mentorship experience, and entrepreneurial spirit. At the time, we were like a blazing fire: full of heat and energy

Now, we’ve all got full time-commitments to work and family: Adeel is completing his Masters’ in International Relations at Guelph University, Babatunde Ibrahim has started his career as a Grade 7-8 teacher, Jovon is working and completing the leadership development program at Shoppers Drug Mart, and Nahyan is working at a software startup, Readyportal, in Business Development.

Continuing this has only been possible by surrounding ourselves with like-minded and supportive individuals.

Photo: This was a big deal for us, being part of the Agents of Change program at the Center for Social Innovation.

This fundraising campaign will help us alleviate the financial pressures of running a social enterprise. In 2013, we found our home at the Center for Social Innovation and were proud to participate as one of ten groups selected as Agents of Change. We continue to spend our weekends at our workspace in Regent Park.

Photo: View from the top, at CSI Regent Park. Admiring the viewof a revitalizing neighborhood, not Coach Babs though, he's too busy for that...

How Does $10,000 Help?

$10,000 goes towards growing the basketball programs and we want to create more meaningful employment opportunities for the youth we deal with. How we does that is, when we have basketball training camps across Toronto and Ottawa, we hire our best players to become coaches themselves and teach the younger players.

Create the cycle of looking out for those following your footsteps. 

This would also fund part of the travel and tournaments costs for 2015-2016. Considering that the majority of our players come from marginalized neighborhoods, we subsidize costs to the best of our abilities. We don't get paid from this, our coaching staff is made up of dedicated volunteers.

Overall, this "keeps the lights on", so we continue to provide high calibre training and mentorship programs. For young boys and girls to become healthier, more confident, and more capable.

Plot Twist - Why Does It Only Show We're Raising $5000 Here?

You see, we have local businesses and sponsors getting into the action too. They'll match your contribution 1-to-1, meaning anything you contribute, its impact is automatically doubled.

That's awesome right?

And even if you just read this and took the time to watch our video, we appreciate that. A lot.

This is a big part of our life, and lives of the young'ns we get to work with. So if you do decide to share this on Facebook or Twitter, or contribute, we'll love it. It gives the fuel for us to continue it and give this our best.