Love and Basketball Take Center Court in Falls Church Community Center

As waves of youngsters, ranging from 8 to 18 years of age, piled into the on Monday night, some joked with their friends, others danced to the music of the DJ, and some talked basketball, emulating the moves of the area’s top high school players soon to take the court.  For a center that reopened its doors nearly 40 years ago to signify renewal and represent change following a violent time in Falls Church history, the congregations of over 100 kids were symbolic of their success.  Thanks to the vision of two young men and the hard work of the JLCC staff, the James Lee League of Champions, in its second year, has become one of the hottest summer events in town.

Barry Jones, 25, first came up with the idea 3 years ago while working as a counselor at the center, realizing that the area had a lot of talented players, but not many outlets to pursue their passion in the offseason.

“There were a lot of people that would come in and play pickup, but I didn’t think we were fully utilizing our gym space,” Jones explained.  “I wanted to create a league of college level talent, something that would attract not only players and fans, but also local businesses, and possibly even scouts who could give the kids opportunities to play college basketball.”

Jones, who played his high school ball at Washington-Lee and Yorktown in Arlington, then offered the challenge to his colleagues at the center to create their “dream team.”  The eight coaches then recruited various high school games over the course of the winter.  A start-up grant of $2,500 from the Fairfax City government helped pay for the uniforms, balls, and referees, and with the talented rosters in place, Jones looked to friend and coworker Erin Daise to give the league a unique twist.

Daise, a 24-year old Alexandria native, played his freshman ball at Annandale High before moving up to Staten Island, New York.  Outside of his work at the center, Daise, started his own marketing and promotions company called “The Fourth Quarter,” which began shooting music videos, but soon branched out to corporate advertising for companies like Gatorade, and Quaker Oats, before shifting focus to help build up the league.   While Jones focused on the structuring of the league itself, Daise looked into creating what he calls “an indoor Rucker Park” atmosphere.

“Barry came up with the idea, and I immediately ran with it,” Daise explained.  “I used all my resources to bring in radio personalities and add entertainment.”

Since then, The James Lee Community Center has hosted many local DJ’s including Ill Will of 93.9, as well as local artists such as Tabi Bonney of Capital Records, but perhaps Daise’s most important alliance was with Chris Bryant, founder of Safe in the Streetz.  Bryant’s nationwide youth outreach organization speaks to the kids at JLCC about the importance of AIDS testing and prevention, as well as a wide variety of topics from gang violence, to nutrition and proper studying habits.   The organization has also brought in local celebrities such as 2001 NCAA Champion Maryland Terrapin Byron Mouton to speak on his experience growing up in a similar environment.

“It is an all around great event,” said Jessica Esparza, the JLCC program coordinator in her fifth year.  “It provides the young kids with positive role models, motivation to exercise which is good for obvious health reasons, and a chance to get together and try new things.”

The center itself will try something new this year, as it has created the Junior League of Champions, which will feature kids 14-and-under on teams coached by some of the high school players in the League of Champions.

“I wanted to teach the players the importance of giving back,” Jones explained.  “It is not all about having some basketball skills.  It is about learning, and teaching those that look up to you what you have learned.”

“A lot of the kids really enjoy it,” Esparza elaborated.  “They go tell their families and friends, and the crowds keep growing.  We even have a following from the senior living center across the street.”

Having packed its stands with over 200 fans in some of the games last year, look for things to heat up this summer as an assortment of the best high school players in Northern Virginia attempt to be the last team standing in the James Lee League of Champions. 

*All games are on Monday and Wednesday night at 6:30 and 8PM.  Also be sure to check out the Safe in the Streetz video included with the pictures in this article*