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Other than perhaps the White House, there is not a larger D.C. institution than the Kenner League. For over 27 years, the league has made Georgetown’s McDonough Arena a summer tourist destination as much as the Lincoln Memorial. “I’ve seen kids grow up in this league,” says co-director Ed Myers, “and in the past five years, surprisingly, its been more team play than individual play.”

While Georgetown’s squad the Tombs – a team sponsored by the Hoyas’ on-campus pub – normally takes the ’chip each summer, in 2006 George Mason took home the crown. It was no coincidence it was the same year they made it all the way to the Final Four. Nonetheless, the Tombs defeated the Madness All-Stars in the Championship this summer with a team featuring incoming freshman Jason Clark and Henry Sims along with returning sophomores Chris Wright and Nikita Mescheriakov. (Greg Monroe was on the team earlier in the summer, but he had to return home after his summer classes finished.)

Where: Georgetown University’s McDonough Arena

When: June until August every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and sometimes on Fridays

Level of Play: A high class and high octane league with two divisions – high school and a college/pro division.

Who Plays Here? Almost every baller from the Metro area has graced the court. The list includes Gilbert Arenas, Allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Francis, Michael Beasley, Ty Lawson, Roger Mason Jr., Lonny Baxter, Jeff Green, Jerome Williams, Mike Sweetney, Othella Harrington, Brendan Haywood, Scottie Reynolds, Greg Monroe, DerMarr Johnson, Sean Singletary, Austin Freeman, Roy Hibbert, Byron Mouton, Patrick Ewing Jr. and D.C. street king Curt “Trouble” Smith.

How to Join This League: Any college player who either lives or attends a school within 100 miles of McDonough Arena is eligible to play in the league. The NCAA mandates that no more than two returning players from any one college can be on the same team unless they’re incoming freshman.

History: The Kenner League, which was known as the Urban Coalition before its inception, started before Patrick Ewing’s freshman year at Georgetown in 1981. Named after James “Jabbo” Kenner, one of the founders and first director of the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Club of Washington D.C., the Kenner League is the only NCAA sanctioned summer league in Washington D.C.
Most Memorable Basketball Moment: “Back in the day, guys like Earl Jones and Michael Britt used to play in the league when it was still called the Urban Coalition,” says co-director Ed Myers. “But the most memorable performance in my mind is when Maryland’s Adrian Branch got 72 points. Wow.”

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