The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School celebrated a major milestone Thursday with the official dedication of its new permanent campus in the South Bronx.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Students, educators, NBA legends and community leaders gathered to mark the opening of the five-story, 69,000-square-foot building, which will serve as the long-term home of the specialized high school focused on careers in the business of basketball.<\/p>\n
The school first opened five years ago in a rented space. Now, students can take courses focused on fields such as sports analytics, media, law and marketing while exploring a variety of extracurricular opportunities. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The ceremony featured New York Knicks legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, whose name the school bears, along with former Knicks teammate Bill Bradley and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.<\/p>\n
Although the school carries his name, Monroe said the focus remains on the students and the opportunities available to them.<\/p>\n
“It’s about what these kids get from this learning experience,” Monroe said.<\/p>\n
Founded by media executive Dan Klores, the school was created to give students a pathway into industries connected to basketball, rather than focusing solely on playing the game.<\/p>\n
“There are a lot of specialty high schools in New York … I said, ‘Why can’t there be a specialty high school for basketball, but not for the playing of the game?’ And that was my inspiration,” said Klores.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Student Monica Barros said the different opportunities keep her busy. <\/p>\n
“I’m involved in softball, volleyball, student government,” Barros said. “There’s always something to do to occupy your time, even if it’s around basketball.”<\/p>\n
School leaders said the goal is to prepare students for college, careers and leadership opportunities across a wide range of professions, whether or not they pursue a future on the court.<\/p>\n