Pickleball, basketball thrive at community center

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For decades, the Carver Community Center has been best known by the entire community as a hub of youth basketball. Nearly every kid who has worn his or her high school colors on a court in Howard County first played hoops at Carver.

But the community center wants to be known for more than just basketball. Over the past couple years, a thriving pickleball league has developed at Carver. New executive director J.C. Barnett III is pleased with center’s efforts to keep people of all ages moving.

“There's an entire community of people who we still want to serve through the game of hoops, and we're looking to kind of go in a different direction with basketball,” said Barnett. “We want to go with more of an individual-based registration versus a team.”

Barnett said he’s in favor of a draft system for the basketball leagues this fall, where teams select players from the registration pool. He is even playing around with the idea of a draft night event, complete with a red carpet for the players to walk down once they are drafted.

“Basketball at the Carver Center was, as far as I'm concerned, at its height in the 1990s, and it was just a great program that Mr. Frank Bellamy established here,” said Barnett. “I want to get as close to that as possible. I don't know how it works yet, but I do know that we can add some pretty cool elements to our program.”

Regardless of whether changes like that are implemented, registration is already underway for the girls basketball fall league. Play begins Sept. 14 and runs each Saturday through Oct. 26. Registration is $75 per player or $250 per team and includes a t-shirt for the players.

The league is split into grade divisions – 3rd to 5th, 6th to 8th, and 9th to 12th – and the season will feature regular games, bracket play, and an all-star game. Teams are guaranteed seven games. Registration closes with the league is full.

Barnett made a name for himself in high school as a basketball player, but dunking the ball wasn’t in his repertoire. That doesn’t mean he didn’t want to dunk. And he’s not alone. Many a kid (and adult) dreams of being able to slam. Barnett wants to make those dreams come true.

The Carver Center plans to hold events where the rims are lowered to nine feet so that players, recreationally, can rock the rim like the pros.

“I'm not getting up on nine feet anymore, but for those who can and still have the ability, who wouldn't still want the opportunity to dunk a basketball?” asked Barnett. “Just get up and down the floor, get some good exercise in, and have some highlight reel opportunities.

“If people don't know anything about else about me, they should know from an artistic standpoint, I love to document. I love to take video footage, take pictures. So, if you want to be seen, I'll put you out there dunking the ball.”

Knees don’t last forever. Neither do hips, necks, backs, etc. For those who long ago abandoned basketball as their sport of choice, but still want to stay active, the Carver Center offers a pickleball league.

As one of the fastest growing sports of the last decade, pickleball has proven to be a great physical activity, particularly for seniors who might not have the moves they once did. This is especially true at Carver.

“They're serious about their pickleball here,” said Barnett, who happily inherited the program. “They come in. They support Carver. They see the value in it.”

Barnett said there are more than two dozen regular players who show up weekly to compete, and there is room for growth. To encourage it, he is introducing quarterly tournaments to the schedule. He’s even willing to schedule food trucks to support the tourneys and make them can’t-miss events.

The first such tournament is scheduled for Sept. 6, with divisions for men, women, and mixed doubles in 35+ and 55+ age classes. Successful participation will mean more tournaments, so Barnett is excited to watch it grow.

For more information about the athletic leagues and many other programs offered by the Carver Community Center, visit www.kokomocarver.org or the Carver Center’s Facebook page.