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Tucson Summer Pro League for Kids wraps up 23rd year with Championship Sunday



Ever since Corey Williams embarked on the Tucson Summer Pro League concept in 2004, basketball has been played competitively here during the summer months and that tradition continued over June and July this year, concluding with Sunday’s championship events at The Gregory School.

Williams, the former star player at Arizona who is now a college basketball analyst on television, incorporated youth divisions in 2013. The inclusion of collegiate and adult players ended entirely after the 2018 summer due to scheduling conflicts and stricter off-season player wellness regulations.

The Tucson Summer Pro League for Kids has now become synonymous with meaningful youth sports objectives in Southern Arizona.

Williams was aided by his Arizona contemporaries once again — women’s basketball and softball standout Felecity Willis with officiating and football and basketball player Kelvin Eafon with coaching. Nadi Carey, a former CDO and Pima College star in women’s hoops, also helped with officiating. She is a Division I women’s basketball referee. Willis is entering her 13th year of Division I officiating.

Most of the participation fees for the youths is covered by sponsors including ATL Wings, Window Depot, Bruce Baca Realty, Casino del Sol, Adventure Schools, Bruce Foundation, Jim Click Automotive, A&H AG Concepts, Moore Law Firm, Truly Nolen, Crest Insurance and Pyramid Federal Credit Union.

Williams’ objective is to give local youths a chance to play summer basketball whereas their families may not be able to afford having their children pay to participate on a traveling club team.

“It’s great for me because it brings back memories of when I was this age playing pickup ball,” Williams said at the outset of involving youth in his venture. “Talking to the parents and explaining to them our philosophy on how we just want the kids to have fun and enjoy the game, that’s exactly how we were introduced to basketball when we were that age.”

Here are the results from TSPL’s Championship Sunday:

TRULY NOLEN 3-POINT SHOOTING CONTEST

BOYS 10-11

Champion: Augustus Arrington

GIRLS

Champion: Siyanna ZImmer

BOYS

Champion: Vinny Castillo

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS 10-11

Champion: Bruce Baca Realty

MVP: Nico Gorosave

Runner-up: Window Depot

MVP: Luc Cioran

GIRLS

Champion: ATL Wings

MVP: Annisten Bosley

Runner-up: Moore Law

MVP: Finley Johnson

BOYS

Champion: Bruce Foundation

MVP: Eddie Canez

Runner-up: Adventure Schools

MVP: Bronson Escobar

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