Welcome to Young Savants!

How many inner city kids dream of playing in the NBA to escape the poverty that surrounds them, and spend every possible minute on the court fine-tuning their game? What if they were shown how to take that determination and hope and use it beyond the athletic field? That's what Young Savants does. YS's mission is to leverage the energy children spend on basketball and help them redirect it into other important areas, such as the classroom, at home, and in the community. The ultimate purpose is to provide boys and girls with the life and academic skills necessary for them to be successful beyond basketball and athletics.

Started by Coach Ben Okiwe in 1999, YS now annually serves 60 core members in grades 6-12, 80% of whom complete the rigorous program and go on to higher education. Scholarships to basketball tournaments and camps held at prestigious NCAA schools are offered to kids who reach their academic and social goals, which include reduced truancy, increased academic success, and improved self-esteem. The chance of these children being the next Michael Jordan may be one in a million, but the chance of becoming a success in life are great for these Young Savants.