A few days ago, I saw an Instagram post about the Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) and its full week of evening playoff hoops at Moakley Park from Boston hoops guru Joe Almeida (Joe617plus). The oldest neighborhood basketball league in the United States tipping off less than a five-minute walk from my Andrew Square apartment? I just knew I had to check it out.
From rim-rattling dunks – I swear, one of the hoops on the court next to the tennis courts might still be shaking – to friendly jawing between players and spectators and some enjoyable conversations with some of the couple hundred people there, my experience catching BNBL action Monday night exceeded my expectations. I strongly suggest you get to the basketball courts at Moakley Park in the next few days. You might see the city’s next big basketball star.
While rosters don’t exist, enough spectators know who the best of the best are. I caught a glimpse of Sebastian Wilkins, chief executive of the aforementioned rim-rattling dunks, a rising sophomore at Brewster Academy with a Division I scholarship offer from Rutgers and many more to come. He teamed up with Jaylen Harrell, a junior at Saint Sebastian’s and a top-100 prospect in his class on a loaded Mission Hill squad.
Walking between the park’s two sets of basketball courts with my friend, Jack, we saw many more interesting players, including at least two kids who stood close to 7 feet tall. I wish we got their names.
I plan on heading back to Moakley Park to catch BNBL action in the coming days. Hope to see you there.
Greg Levinsky is a graduate Boston University. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press and several outlets in Maine. He can be reached at [email protected]
