The Aroostook Youth Basketball League has seen substantial growth since it began a decade ago.
It started in 2004 with three communities — Fort Kent, Caribou and Presque Isle — putting together a league for third- and fourth-graders. Ten years later, 12 Aroostook County towns are involved and this season, 46 teams are involved in separate girls’ and boys’ leagues for grades 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8. League president Brian Massey estimates that between 450 and 500 youths have been involved in this winter’s league.
“We are all about developing kids for high school,” Massey said. “AYBL is about making high school teams better, not developing the next Div. I prospect.”
Ghent Holdsworth, the league’s treasurer, said the primary goal early on was to give youth opportunities above and beyond what the local recreation departments were offering.
“We just wanted to give some kids who want to develop their skills a little more the ability to do that,” he said. “We work with the local rec departments to try not to conflict with the programs they are running.”
Massey said the league has been able to build itself financially over the years and wants to give back. As a result, AYBL is planning to give out five $500 college scholarships to high school seniors who were on a varsity roster and have been involved in the AYBL program.
Such student-athletes are encouraged to contact their high school guidance office to pick up a scholarship application.
For more information, call Massey at 551-7521 or email ayblmaine@gmail.com.
