NATCHEZ — Nook Logan has a dream, and all he needs to make it a reality is a gym.

Logan, a Natchez native and former pro baseball player, appeared before the Natchez-Adams School District Thursday to present a proposal for a youth basketball league he wants to bring to Natchez.

Though no action was taken at the meeting, Logan said he hopes the program can begin as early as February.

“We already have a league in Jackson,” Logan said. “We are trying really hard to start something here, but right now we are having to wait on the school district.”

Logan said he is hoping that through the league, not only will playing sports be promoted, but also education will be brought to the forefront for many kids.

“Now, things aren’t as open to certain people as it was when I was coming up,” he said. “When sports were good, education was good at Natchez High when I came through.”

Logan said during his time as a Natchez High Bulldog, the school was competitve in every sport.

“But now, kids don’t have anything to look forward to,” Logan said. “Sports pushes them in academics and helps keep them interested. I know sports is what kept me. If it wasn’t for a bat and a ball or a ball and a rim, I don’t know what would’ve happened. I was an honors student because my mom rewarded me with sports.”

Logan said he is also hoping that the league will provide an outlet for children that keeps them off the streets.

“If they have practice on Monday and games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, that’s three days they aren’t on the street looking for something to do,” Logan said. “I grew up throwing the eggs at cars and stuff and if it wasn’t for sports, I wouldn’t have gotten where I did.”

Logan plans on calling the league the Miss-Lou Youth Basketball League, and said he has already spoken to some prominent sports figures about being involved with it.

“Trevor Ariza and I are good friends,” he said. “We used to hang out all the time when I was in Anaheim. Cheryl Ford, Karl Malone’s daughter, three time WNBA champion and a rebounding champion, is in Louisiana and asked me what I had going on. She said she would do something. Mo Williams is another one.”

But before the plan can take action, Logan said there are still some things to be straightened out.

“We didn’t know anyone in Jackson,” he said. “But we have a league there. It wasn’t hard to explain to them why we needed a gym. Why do we have to jump through all these hoops here?”

Ultimately, Logan wants to provide an opportunity to learn and play the game of basketball, but, more importantly, provide them with something that will push them to excel in academics.

“I want to keep the kids playing and give them something to look forward to that will make them take education seriously,” Logan said.