The Clash Pro (basketball) League (CPL), which debuted last year, conducted its first Clash Youth Combine this past weekend, with boys in grades four through six participating on Saturday and seventh- and eighth-graders on Sunday afternoon.
CPL was created by Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo, co-founder of live-streaming platform Clash TV. The league features top streetballers from not just the New York City area, but nationally and internationally, and plays its games at the Harlem Police Athletic Center (PAL; 441 Manhattan Avenue). The City Slammers won the inaugural championship.
“The end goal was to provide parents and young players with the opportunity to see where they stand against some of the other top players in their respective age groups, with the highest professionalism of Clash basketball,” Clash TV Director of Basketball Business Development Chris “CWill” Williams told the AmNews. Numerous middle school and high school basketball coaches were in attendance.
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Some of the activities that the boys participated in over the weekend included conditioning drills, defensive stance builders, footwork skills, and finishing at the rim. The participants were then matched up in scrimmage games.
“Kenny Stevens, Melquan Bolden, and I are all coaches within the grassroots, high school, and college basketball landscape, and together with Clash TV, we aim to provide the young hoopers with an opportunity to take part in an NBA-style combine, mixed with skill stations [and] competitive scrimmages, as well as media training,” Williams said. “The idea was a small spin-off from the CPL where we wanted to give the youth an opportunity to participate in something bigger than just games and give them a glimpse of what the next level would look like.”
Williams called the ability to return to the Harlem PAL a huge blessing and a full-circle moment: He hosted a youth clinic with former NBA and New Jersey Nets player Anthony Morrow in 2013.
“CPL provided a great opportunity to bring the community together,” Williams said. “The feedback from season one of the CPL has been nothing short of amazing. We currently have over 10 players who competed in CPL playing professionally overseas after the season concluded. We look to continue to be an avenue for players looking to play professionally, helping these players build brands while providing more excitement for the fans. Stay tuned for season two. Our founder, Chris ‘Gotti’ Lorenzo, has been working tirelessly on mastering this product, and we are excited for the world to see what we have in store for the CPL.”
The AmNews extends its condolences to the Lorenzo family on the passing of hip-hop icon Irv “Gotti” Lorenzo, who died last week at the age 54.