Where can someone with Kendrick Perkins’ talent and Kevin Durant’s passion experience the glory of a game winning three-pointer? Look no further than Jesuit’s own JBDL tournament.
A 4-on-4 intramural basketball league, the Jesuit Basketball Developmental League – or JBDL – offers a casual, less stressful basketball tournament than the Jesuit Basketball Association, which is usually reserved for upperclassmen. Additionally, “everyone who signs up for the draft plays,” assures faculty moderator Joseph Nava, creating an even more inviting atmosphere for guys with little prior experience.
After six team captains are picked randomly, an NBA-style draft ensues, until every draftee belongs to a team. Rusty Landon ’16, who had never competed in the JBDL before, was selected first in the draft. Rusty “didn’t really think [he’d] be picked number one,” but went on to win the MVP award of the Magis Madness tournament, further emphasizing the equal opportunity for all guys in the tournament.
With teams selected, one of the most entertaining parts of the tournament every year takes place – the team names are created. Some notable names from this year’s JBDL include the “Abusement Park,” “Bosh.0,” and the “BAD Boyz.”
Also an integral part of the JBDL is the naming of the five tournaments, which Mr. Nava takes pride in. “To make it a little bit more different and fun and manageable, we just made up these corny names,” including the Ignatian Invitational, Magis Madness, the Pope Francis S.J. Championship, and the Half-Court Spiritual Exercises, which Mr. Nava is especially proud of.
Although competition is still intense, the JBDL is more recreational than the JBA. Unlike the JBA, which consists of an entire season of games, the JBDL only requires “guys to commit to five Sundays,” says Mr. Nava.
Each Sunday, every team plays three games to determine their seeding for the semifinal games. The top four seeds play each other to determine the two teams in the finals, while the losers of the semis go on to a losing bracket to determine third place. However, not making the semis isn’t the end of the road for those with the worst records. The fifth and sixth seeds play each other to determine fifth and sixth place.
The winner of each weekly tournament earns a certain number of Championship League Points based on their margin of victory. Then, the four teams with the most Championship League Points are seeded for the Pope Francis S.J. Championship on the last day of the tournament. This year’s winner of the championship game was the BAD Boyz, with the Toon Squad coming in 2nd place and the Dream Team rounding out at 3rd place.
What makes the JBDL all the more exciting is the unpredictability of tournaments from weekend to weekend. Upsets of seeds are frequent, to say the least. For example, this year’s “Dream Team,” which lost every one of its games in the Ignatian Invitational, went on to win 4 of its 5 games in the Magis Madness Tournament to secure the Championship title. Also, the BAD Boyz, who won the Ignatian Invitational, choked in the semis of the AMDG shootout, ultimately earning 4th place.
Thanks largely to Mr. Nava, who has put a huge effort into creating an inviting and fun atmosphere, many guys who would not have an opportunity to play in the JBA tournament are able to play recreational basketball in a non-stressful environment.
So, do you think you have the skills of Raymond Felton and Kevin Garnett’s love of the game? Do you think you’re ready to take on the legends in the Pope Francis S.J. Championship Game? Look for announcements of next year’s JBDL tournament, because Commissioner Nava is always looking for new talent to add to his league.
