NBA Math Hoops students participated in the 2023 NBA Draft as part of their trip to New York City.
At the end of June, a group of 24 students from the United States and Australia had the opportunity to participate in the 2023 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship. The students and their families received an all-expenses paid trip to New York for the two-day event, which included a visit to the Liberty Science Center, a tour of Madison Square Garden, and an NBA Math Hoops board game competition.
Learn Fresh, a non-profit international education group, aims to improve and improve students’ STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) achievements through sports. The group has been working with teams and organizations to help students learn critical math skills through the game of basketball since 2013.
Learn Fresh uses community, play, and in-depth assessment to achieve academic goals through programs like NBA Math Hoops, MLB Players STEM League, and STEM Goals, all of which engage students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Harnessing the power of sports, the Learn Fresh team is making math more exciting and engaging for students across the US, Australia and South Africa.
“The best part of our 10-year journey is that we went from being a collection of people, to a staff of 20 this summer,” said Learn Fresh CEO and co-founder Nick Monzi. “And for the first time, this event includes students from outside the United States, a major milestone in the growth of the NBA Math Hoops program.”
NBA Math Hoops is an all-encompassing community initiative that includes a basketball board game, mobile app, and curriculum. Enables students to acquire basic math and social-emotional skills by engaging with the game of basketball.
It also has tangible and effective results. An evaluation of more than 4,000 NBA Math Hoops participants measured 28% gains in math skills and a 21% increase in math skills related to statistics and data analysis in 2020. Studies show that program participants have 30% more likely to report an increase in key attributes such as leadership, grit and resilience. And it goes beyond math as well, as students learn valuable life and social skills.
“Being able to make such a huge impact with basketball off the court means something,” Monzi said. “Having the data to show that what we’re doing works while still impacting families and educating young people in a fun way is priceless,” she continues.
To be eligible to apply for the Global Championship, students must participate in NBA Math Hoops by playing at least 25 games and completing 10 curriculum units during the program season. Participants must also show extensive improvement throughout the program, display good sportsmanship, and demonstrate the ability to overcome challenges both in and out of the classroom.
We are live on the red carpet of the NBA Draft! @nbacares pic.twitter.com/tfNwMWAhyd
— Learn Fresh (@learn_fresh) June 22, 2023
To cap off the Math Hoops Global Championship, the group entered the NBA Draft, all thanks to the work of Learn Fresh.
Students attended the pre-ceremonial red carpet and watched as NBA prospects strutted in their Draft looks. Many were amazed at the sight of the 2.5m tall Victor Wembanyama and started chanting “Wemby” repeatedly to get the young star’s attention.
“This moment is something special for these kids,” said Brie Jackson, program events manager for Learn Fresh. “Coming from mostly low income areas, this experience is once in a lifetime for some. This is something they will never forget.”
After Draft Night was the Math Hoops NBA Championship. The game showcased actual performance statistics and the identities of NBA and WNBA players, creating an exciting and culturally relevant approach to captivating students of all backgrounds. Students drafted a team of NBA and WNBA players and competed individually or in teams of two to solve quick math problems and score points. The competition replicated the game of basketball as teams quickly transition from offense to defense in an organized environment.
The students faced each other in an elimination tournament. As the final game began, the parents surrounded the table and the other students cheered for the final two teams.
At the end of the contest, participants received a personalized gift from Learn Fresh and a participation prize for their efforts. These gifts ranged from team-autographed basketballs, to autographed special-edition shoes and shirts.
Learn Fresh also announced the launch of their new Alumni Scholarship, which offers alumni the chance to earn a scholarship after graduating from high school, setting up young scholars for a successful lifelong future.
2023-06-27 23:15:41
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