Providence youth basketball league keeps kids off the streets

PROVIDENCE, R.I.– The ‘We Got Next League’ is making a difference on the basketball court and off for the youth of Providence.

The co-ed league is hosted on the Met School’s public basketball courts each evening during the summer Monday to Friday. It is now in it’s 15th year.

“If the lights could stay on until two in the morning, the kids would be out here until two in the morning,” said Corey Brown Wednesday, founder of the league. “These kids come out here on a Monday or Tuesday. Any given day, you have 400 kids out here. It doesn’t matter girl or boy– if you can play basketball, anyone should let you play.”

There were three separate shootings in Providence over the weekend. One of those resulted in the tragic death of 15-year old Ger’Vonte Tilson.

Brown says he offers a safe haven for children around the city.

He explained, “They tell me they’re leaving, ‘Mr. Corey, I’m out. I’m going home, which way you going?’ I go, ‘Take this way. Let me know when you get home.’ It’s not even 15 year-olds. I got kids who are 25 who come here, and they want to get away from the madness. They come here and they stay out here all night.”

“If anyone wants to play pick up ball, I can usually count on my squad to come and be ready to play games,” said a 12-year old player. “We usually come here just to play and do fundamentals… I feel safe here.”

18-year old Felix Rodriguez has rarely missed a night of basketball in the last two years. He says while the court makes him feel safe, the recent violence off the court is worrisome.

He explained, “You know it’s tough, its Providence. There’s a lot of violence in the city and a lot of unfortunate things. But, a place like this gives us an opportunity to get better at the things we like to do in a safe environment.”

Brown concluded, “They know without this they have nothing. Imagine, I had 40 kids, and now I have 500. Imagine if I get another court– that would be another 500. So, that’s 1,000 kids off the street.”