With New York City being the mecca of basketball, the PLYMKRS Foundation is making leaps in serving the diverse community of hoopers in the city, with bounds knowing no age, gender, or skill level.
Whether it’s through playing or coaching, PLYMKRS has a space for all who are looking to push the game forward.
When Sam Blackmon, Kenny St. George and Jasmine Hill came together in 2023 to found PLYMKRS, it started as a conversation between friends and former collegiate hoopers who missed the game and wanted to bring free, co-ed runs to their community.
After a successful first year, the group wanted to do more than just provide consistent runs—they wanted to have a bigger impact on the community. That’s when they realized that serving the youth through the game of basketball can have the lasting impact.
“We were all once young hoopers trying to figure out the way. Whatever this mission is, we should gear it towards the youth” says St. George.
Blackmon also emphasized the role basketball played in his life, describing it as an escape which aided in both his mental and physical health.
“Building something out and giving back to our community the things that we didn’t have at the time.. Just because you might not hit that pinnacle, which is very very hard to hit, that doesn’t mean that you have to stop playing the game or that the game cant provide you with all these other things,” states Sam.
Hosting youth-focused clinics throughout Brooklyn, the crew noted that the network they’ve been able to build through basketball has helped bring their ideas to life. “A lot of these people played college, pro, or overseas so we actually have them come be a part of our youth clinics where they get to be trainers, help volunteer. These kids are able to have this mentorship integrated,” says Hill.
PLYMKRS is working to give every player the opportunities, attention, and resources they need, too. That includes holistic style clinics with skill work, stretching, mobility and breath work all encorporated. The goal is to promote a healthier lifestyle.
They also hosted their annual sneaker drive, where over 75 pairs of shoes donated and 55 kids were able to walk away with brand new kicks after the clinic.
With their sights set on empowering the next generation, paying it forward has been one of their biggest motives.
“All you gotta do is show up for one day, for four hours and show kids that you care about what they got going on, it leaves a lasting impression,” says Kenny St George. “That’s truly what this is all about.”