Every year in Philadelphia, more than 300 young people experience a moment most athletes only ever watch on television. They hear their names called. They walk across a stage. They are drafted.
But La Liga del Barrio’s Annual Basketball Draft Day is about far more than recreating NBA spectacle. It is an act of visibility, dignity, and possibility for young people who are too often overlooked.
On Saturday, January 24, La Liga del Barrio hosted its 8th Annual Draft Day at Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School in Northeast Philadelphia. Student-athletes ages 6 to 18 were formally drafted onto teams ahead of the league’s winter and spring season, which runs from January 31 through April 25. For many, it was the first time they had ever been publicly celebrated for their commitment, discipline, and growth.
La Liga’s Draft Day mirrors the pageantry of professional sports—music, announcements, excitement, and the unmistakable hum of community pride. This year’s event was emceed by Rumba 106.1’s Loraine Ballard Morrill alongside Jose Urdaneta, bringing familiar Philly voices and cultural pride to the room. The day also featured a “dress-for-success” contest, encouraging youth to step confidently into the spotlight and reinforcing the message that how you present yourself matters both on and off the court.
What truly distinguishes La Liga is its clarity of mission. As President and CEO Raymond Alvarez often reminds the community: basketball is the hook; education and safety are the mission. The league delivers structure, expectations, and caring adult mentors in neighborhoods where young people often confront significant challenges. The court becomes a space for accountability, mentorship, and belonging.
Founded in 2000 by former Councilman Angel L. Ortiz, La Liga del Barrio has served more than 18,000 student-athletes over 26 years, working in partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Sixers Youth Foundation. Its impact stretches far beyond wins and losses, touching families, strengthening schools, and transforming entire communities.
This year also marks a pivotal moment for the organization’s future. La Liga continues fundraising for its first-ever capital campaign to build a dedicated gym and community hub in Kensington—an anchor space for youth development designed to support generations to come.
Draft Day is a celebration. But more importantly, it is a reminder that when we invest in young people with intention, guidance, and care, we are not just shaping athletes.
We are building futures.
