New Balance Hosts Inaugural Beantown Elite Experience for High School Basketball Players
Published
Historically speaking, Nike has led the charge for youth basketball development with its EYBL program, but new players are entering the space. Last week, New Balance officially tipped off its first-ever high school basketball camp, the Beantown Elite Experience, at The TRACK on the brand’s Boston campus.
Over the course of four days (August 20-23), top talent in both men’s and women’s basketball for the classes of 2026-2028 gathered at The Beantown Elite Experience. In addition to skill development sessions, campers learned about financial literacy, NIL opportunities, personal branding, and professional exposure, all tools that will be critical as players navigate a future in the game. The program highlighted New Balance’s belief that success in basketball extends past the hardwood and into life’s broader arenas.
Each athlete was able to bring a parent, coach, or mentor to the camp, with these guests having their own schedule of programming that touched on supporting an athlete’s mental health, navigating business opportunities, and staying grounded through adversity.
New Balance professional and NIL basketball athletes Tyrese Maxey, Darius Garland, Aaliyah Crump, and Chris Livingston each played an active role throughout the week by leading drills, hosting panel discussions, and serving as mentors. Their insight and firsthand experience ensured that attendees left Boston not only sharper on the court but also with a clearer roadmap to success off of it.
The camp concluded with a moving tribute to Boston’s own Terrence Clarke, whose life and promising basketball career were tragically cut short in 2021. The Terrence Clarke Award, which recognizes players who embody leadership and character both on and off the court, was presented to Jordan Smith Jr. (Men’s No. 2 for Class of 2026) and Micah Ojo (Women’s No. 7 Class of 2027).
New Balance has continued to make its presence known in the NBA with elite talent and new performance models hitting the market each year. However, with the Beantown Elite Experience, the brand has planted the seeds of what could become one of the premier high school basketball events in the country. Check below for still images from the event, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
