There have been shoot-arounds and pickup games on the new basketball courts at the Barnes Street Playground for a couple of months since they officially opened in the spring.

Ian Benson said he believes the current Kings & Queens of the Court summer youth basketball program at the park is the first program/event to be held there, and he’s excited to again give boys and girls ages 5 to 15 a chance to have fun while working on their basketball skills.

“The feeling and atmosphere of being on the court and having the kids playing while people walk by and cars go by, you can feel the energy,” said Benson, the camp program’s founder and director.

“Growing up here, I can’t remember New Kensington ever having a court like this that brings that energy. It’s a different feeling from being inside a gym.”

Benson said close to 30 boys and girls from New Kensington and Arnold as well as several neighboring communities are taking advantage of the free summer program at the courts, which are across the street from the Valley Points YMCA and are surrounded by Barnes Street, Eighth and Ninth streets and Constitution Boulevard.

“I think we’ve been waiting for a court like this for a long time,” Benson said

“Playing the game outside, especially in the summer, it’s one of the greatest things in the sport. It just is a different feeling where the kids can stretch out and enjoy the weather.”

Benson said he understands weather always is a factor when hosting a program like this outside, but, he said, Mother Nature has been rather kind over the first three weeks since its start July 16.

Benson said the numbers for the summer program are not as high as the Kings & Queens winter program — from November to January — at Roy A. Hunt Elementary gym in Arnold.

The most recent late fall/winter session featured about 120 youths playing basketball Sunday evenings between skill learning and scrimmaging.

“Summer camps are kind of down as compared to the winter as there is football and other sports going on as well as vacations and so many other activities,” Benson said.

“But we’re here and ready to welcome the boys and girls who want to learn more about basketball and improve (their games).”

Benson said he wants to continue to foster the possibility of forming a league at the youth level similar to the Kings of the Court college/adult league that staged high-level games between past and present area hoops stars for a number of years.

“Right now, it’s just the camp each Sunday,” Benson said. “The goal is to have both time for instruction and also the opportunity to form teams and play games. A lot of these kids love to compete, and we want to give them that here (at the courts).”

Benson said he also hopes to foster a connection with the coaches at Valley — John Stone (boys) and Marta Regus (girls) — and other high school coaches in the region as the future of varsity basketball, he said, is growing up fast.

Benson, who grew up in New Kensington, played basketball at Valley and graduated from there in 2006, was a young and impressionable youth in the area. Now, he wants to work hard to give back to the community and region that helped form his love for the game.

Benson received a scholarship to Division II Notre Dame College, played under his father, Vern Benson, and was one of the Cager Classic MVPs as a senior.

Vern Benson is a boys assistant coach at Gateway.

The younger Benson said he is grateful for the support he has received for the program, including that from the parents.

“This couldn’t happen without the help of some good friends,” Benson said. “They also grew up through the community, so they know what it’s all about playing ball at Valley.”

Benson’s high school teammates, Steve Ross and Justin Lookabaugh, serve as camp instructors.

Benson said he expects to host program participants for at least the next three Sundays leading up the start of the school year.

While the summer camp session continues, Benson is looking forward to the next fall/winter session.

For more information, call Benson at 724-472-7324, email ianbenson1987@gmail.com or visit Kings & Queens of the Court Basketball on Facebook.

“It’s amazing and satisfying to watch these kids grow and flourish in the game,” Benson said. “They love the game and want to get better. We’re out here hoping to give them that motivation to improve themselves.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)