Eli George, a junior at Portsmouth High School, is paving the way for future basketball Clippers. 

George recently founded the B3 youth clinic, Ballin’ Bondin’ Becomin’ in April, 2024. The clinic is a free basketball program for third to eighth grade boys and girls in the Portsmouth area. The clinic takes place at the basketball court in the Gosling Meadows community and is run solely by high school volunteers. 

George has been helping with youth sports even before he started this project. Recently, George was the New Franklin School boys basketball coach, and he also works in the after school program at New Franklin. During his time coaching fifth grade, he noticed “there was a gap between school sports, and the outside home aspect.”

“I wanted to build that community outside the classroom for young athletes,” said George.

B3’s most recent camp had 30 young athletes in attendance. A huge jump from the first camp three weeks ago, which had only five to ten athletes, and George is hoping the attendance level will only increase from here. 

The B3 clinics focus not only on improving basketball skills but also on bringing young athletes together. Liz Bryant signed up her son, Asantae, for the camps after hearing about them through NFS basketball. Bryant did not regret it. 

“It has helped my son and other young athletes a lot. Not just with skill but learning how to be teammates, respecting each other better, and also bringing everyone together as a group. Some of the kids that don’t always get along are able to hangout and set their differences aside,” said Bryant.

George’s overall goal with the B3 camps is to “get more kids out there, get more highschoolers passing their skills down, and make it aware to the whole Portsmouth community that there is a no barrier entrance to this community project,” said George. As this program continues to grow and help youth athletes, George is ready to take the next steps to help our community. 

“Eli has given elementary and middle school children, regardless of their family’s socioeconomic standing, an opportunity to be in a positive environment to strengthen their basketball skills, whether they are new to the game or have experience. The players are coached by a wonderful group of role models like himself. They are having fun, exercising, and learning about teamwork,” said Laura LaVallee, another mother who has two children who attend the B3 clinics and who is also a PHS English teacher. 

George’s dedication to youth sports has not gone unnoticed. Asantae, a young hard working fifth grade basketball player, admires everything George has done to make these camps possible. 

“I can say Eli is a great person. He doesn’t have to do this, but he is doing it for us to help us get better. I am so happy he’s with me as my coach,” said Asantae.

Even with everything George has done to make these camps possible, he’s not done yet. George recently met with the Governor of New Hampshire, as well as the Portsmouth Youth Wellness Coalition, to look for funding to build a new basketball court for the Gosling Meadows community and the B3 program. The court proposal is $25,000, which would include paving, outdoor hoops with glass backboards, fencing around the court, and ideally permanent outdoor water fountains and seating.

George is also hoping to gain $2500 for a community sport shed, and $2500 for continuous funding for the B3 clinic. 

George feels very confident about the meeting and believes “no matter wherever you stand politically or wherever you are in life, that the idea of this improved community is supported by the public at large. This money would mean so much to the kids to have a court and space to call their own. They would protect it and they would love it.” George should hear back from the Governor and committee in around a week. 

“What Eli is doing for the city of Portsmouth transcends the game of basketball. He’s teaching them life skills, building relationships, and creating community,” said LaVallee.

Editor’s Note: The B3 Youth Clinic website is blocked on Portsmouth High School Network, but you can access the link on your personal devices.