Youth basketball league teaches kids the ropes

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 10, 2016

Nook Logan coaches his team during a game at Morgantown Academy Wednesday. Nicole Hester/Natchez Democrat

Nook Logan coaches his team during a game at Morgantown Academy Wednesday. Nicole Hester/Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — It may be a surprise to read the Huskies played the Razorbacks Wednesday night during the middle of NCAA conference tournaments.

It may be even more surprising the final score was 18-7. This is the usual, however, for the Miss-Lou Youth Activities Association youth basketball, in a game between the five- and six-year-old boys teams.

Young players like Anthony Givens get the chance to emulate their favorite players. In Givens’ case, that means hurling up 3-pointers like the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry.

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“It’s fun when a kid tells you, ‘I forgot to dribble,’” league program director Nook Logan said.

This is the second year of Logan’s youth basketball league, which plays games at Morgantown Academy. The organization is a recreational league for young, local athletes to learn the game.

Logan, a Natchez native, reached out to old friends on social media, when he moved back to his hometown two years ago, trying to start a youth league that can teach young, aspiring athletes of all ages.

“My first love was basketball,” Logan said. “Being in the gym, not having to worry about the weather outside. Seeing a lot of people that are gravitating toward the game, I want to teach the game to the youngsters.”

Kids from ages 4 to 18 years old play recreational games throughout the week. The younger teams are sometimes 4-on-3, depending on the turnout. The rules are loose for the younger kids — calling a double dribble or travel isn’t as important as getting the kids used to the structure of the game.

“(We’re) teaching them young, fundamentals and basic things so they can carry them over when they get older and a little more athletic,” Logan said.

Logan’s youth league hasn’t been around long enough for his youngest players to be fully groomed and playing high school basketball, but there are kids at Natchez High School involved in the league.

C.J. Firley plays for Natchez High School coach David Haywood as a junior guard and recreationally for Logan.

Firley said Logan taught him baseball and basketball at a young age. Now he helps Logan with concessions, water, tickets and plays and travels with Logan’s high school league.

“AAU is coming up in three more months,” Firley said. “We travel to Jackson and Texas.”

Firley said he broke his arm playing football, and Logan would go to the gym to practice and shoot hoops. Practice time with Logan and his friends helped Firley get his shooting strength back.

“I stopped playing football when I broke my arm,” Firley said as he demonstrated by dangling his arm in uncomfortable fashion. “He helped me get right.”

Logan takes organization and attention to detail seriously. Firley scrolled through dozens of scheduling messages that Logan sent to his volunteers and players.

Firley said it’s evident of how important the youth league is to Logan.

“He keeps everything in order, “Firley said. “I love playing with him, he calls us and spends time with us in the gym on weekends.”