A Milwaukee basketball league is drawing about 100 young men between the ages of 17-25 every Wednesday and Saturday to Bradley Tech High School to better themselves through midnight basketball.
“All these people from everywhere play and they're here for the same thing,” said Midnight League member David Hughes. “It's a safe place. You know it's a safe haven for people because we're all here for the same thing. We're all trying to play basketball.”
Hughes said he joined the Midnight League to expand his network. During the day, he's a Student Intervention Specialist counseling teens with behavioral issues at Bradley Tech but at night, “You can get into a lot of trouble in the streets of Milwaukee,” Hughes said.
He’s doing his best to stay out of trouble.
“There are always positive and negative things that I do, but I try to steer into the more positive things,” Hughes explained. “But sometimes I do get caught up in the negative things and when I'm here, it's just always something that I know is going to be positive.”
“It's real loose,” said Midnight League Manager of the atmosphere. “We have a DJ all night long and the young people are dancing, the players are dancing.”
Briggs has already seen success in the league's return. In addition to basketball, enrichment programs are available for players. On this night, players are learning about fatherhood and communication.
“We have several guys who have tapped into the job employment,” Briggs said. “They have jobs now. Guys have tapped into the academics, the education. They're attending school in the fall… Those types of stories keep us going.”
David is 25-years-old so this year will be his last in the league but he doesn't intend to go far away.
“Hopefully I don't have to miss too much of it and I can come back and volunteer, work or they give me a job that I can take part and be around for this as long as it's around,” Hughes said.
The 10-week season wraps up Saturday, May 13 but the next session starts up again June 3.
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