Key Takeaways
A new 15,000-square-foot player development facility will open at 24 Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood in early 2026
Elite trainer Justin Bright and his HMBL Development team will lead year-round basketball programming focused on skill and athletic development
The facility addresses a growing concern among coaches and executives about fundamental skill gaps between U.S. youth players and their international counterparts
Notable athletes developed through Bright’s system include top 2026 point guard Deron Rippey Jr., St. Peter’s forward De’Naya Rippey, and Syracuse freshman Kiyan Anthony
The Brooklyn location is the first in a planned series of player development centers across key basketball markets
A Skills-First Approach to Youth Basketball
HMBL Development and MADE Hoops have partnered to open an elite player development facility in Brooklyn, marking a deliberate investment in fundamental skill training at a time when industry leaders are raising concerns about American youth basketball’s development model.
The 15,000-square-foot gym at 24 Carlton Avenue will operate year-round, seven days a week, with programming that integrates on-court skill work with off-court athletic performance training. The facility will include a dedicated strength and conditioning zone focused on plyometrics, speed, agility, and core strength.
Justin Bright, who founded HMBL Development in 2014 and has coached youth players for more than a decade, will lead basketball programming. His team includes six veteran coaches and trainers, all Brooklyn natives with international playing experience at the college and professional levels.
“For years, the U.S. system has focused on exposure over development,” Bright said. “European academies have shown what happens when you teach movement, skill, and discipline from a young age. That’s what we’ve built at HMBL, and with MADE Hoops, we can now deliver it at scale.”
Track Record of Elite Development
Bright’s training system has produced several high-profile prospects. Deron Rippey Jr., currently the top-ranked point guard in the high school class of 2026 at Blair Academy, began training with Bright and playing in MADE Hoops events in seventh grade. De’Naya Rippey, now a sophomore forward at St. Peter’s University, credits Bright with developing her game to the Division I level. Syracuse freshman Kiyan Anthony also trained with Bright during his formative years.
“Training with Justin has helped me expand my game on each of the three levels,” Rippey Jr. said. “His creativity and vision for the game separate him from other trainers.”
LaLa Anthony, Kiyan’s mother, noted that Bright “taught him the fundamentals, pushed him the right way, taught him how to be tough, and really helped build his confidence.”
Community Access and Broader Reach
The facility will serve purposes beyond elite athlete training. MADE Hoops and HMBL Development plan to host community clinics and youth programs in partnership with local schools and organizations.
Adam Berkowitz, Chief Operating Officer of New Heights, a sports-based youth development non-profit that works with HMBL, emphasized the broader community benefit: “This space will not only serve elite athletes, but expand much-needed access for the larger Brooklyn and New York City basketball communities.”
Chad Babel, founder and CEO of MADE Hoops, described the partnership as “another step in bringing MADE Hoops to the forefront of player development and really investing in our kids.”
Looking Ahead
The Brooklyn facility represents the first location in a planned network of player development centers from HMBL Development and MADE Hoops. Additional facilities are planned for key basketball markets across the country, though specific locations and timelines have not been announced.
The investment comes as youth basketball participation in the U.S. continues to grow while coaches and executives point to widening gaps in fundamental skills compared to European and international academy systems.
via: SLAM
Images by MADEHoops
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