ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Registration is now open for Allentown’s King and Queen of the Court spring basketball programs, running from April 15 to May 15 at Allen High School.
The programs, organized by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, serve boys and girls in grades 6-9 who attend school in Allentown. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Queen of the Court, established in 2009 and now in its 16th year, was created first as a free basketball fundamentals program for girls.
The program was inspired by local high school coaches John Venus, Bob Ardle, and Steve Middleton to expand interest in learning the game of basketball for girls in the City of Allentown.
Brittni Kholi, who began helping with the program in 2014 and took over in 2016, currently oversees Queen of the Court.
As a Licensed Practicing Counselor with extensive experience working with youth in diverse settings, Coach Kholi takes a client-centered approach in her work, specializing in helping athletes navigate the unique pressures they face while building skills in mental health and self-confidence alongside basketball fundamentals.
King of the Court followed in 2021, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic initially as a virtual program featuring pre-recorded workouts posted on social media.
The inaugural eight-week virtual program ran from April 6 through May 27, 2021, in collaboration with East Side Youth Center and MadBballTV creator Julian Thomas.
The City of Allentown Parks & Recreation program specialists Brittni Kholi and Anthony Ross now oversee and facilitate both programs.
They have recently hired trainers Quindell Brice with QBrice Training, along with Don Dentith and Vance Miller with D1 Workouts, to provide more in-depth basketball skill development while maintaining the focus on athlete mental health and wellness.
Program Details
Both programs regularly attract between 60-100 participants on any given night, with numbers varying between fall and spring sessions and depending on which age groups are being catered to during each season.
The programs welcome beginners looking to learn fundamentals and experienced players wanting to refine their skills.
Beyond basketball training, coaches emphasize life skills, confidence, teamwork, and empowerment. The programming combines physical activity with mindfulness and mental health components specific to athletes.
While the programs do not offer formal competitive rewards, Kholi said, “We look at the reward as the opportunity to keep the kids in a safe and active space, educate them on athlete mental health and wellness and allow them to learn from some of the top trainers in the area for free.”
She added that participants also receive a free t-shirt, which has proven popular among the young athletes.
Registration Information
To register, parents must first create an account on the Allentown Parks and Recreation website.
After creating an account, parents can register their children for the specific programs at the following links:
Register for King of the Court
Register for Queen of the Court
For more information, contact Allentown Parks and Recreation at (610) 437-7750.
