Last Wednesday, in the South Bronx, N.Y., the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School brought together the students, local community, media and members of the National Basketball Association (NBA), past and present, for a ground-breaking ceremony (pun intended).
The school, which won the City Schools Sports Association (CSSA) New York State High School Boys Basketball Championship last year, was ready to break the ground for the construction of a new building, planning to make the move from Pelham Bay, the current location, to the new location in Mott Haven in January 2026. The new building will hold a gym with an 8,000 square foot basketball court and a capacity of 400 fans. Other plans for the new South Bronx location include a weight room, dance room, physical therapy training room, 24 regular classrooms, two science classrooms, an art studio, a library, a media production studio and a broadcast studio with a green screen.
As you may infer, the Earl Monroe School wants to be more than a national basketball powerhouse churning out 5-star recruits. As a matter of fact, they’re not aiming for that at all. They are a charter, co-ed, tuition-free high school without recruiting. Students can only get into the school by way of a lottery. The school instead aims to find students’ career paths within the game of basketball. Earl Monroe, who was at the event, said, “We are the only school in the entire nation for basketball, but not for the playing of the game.” The school takes pride in being a “purpose-built, specialized high school with an academic curriculum entirely designed around basketball and the many career paths associated with the global game, from broadcast media to sports psychology, law, nutrition, facilities management and venture capital business.” They want to use the game of basketball to inspire kids to learn about school subjects and potential future career choices.
“The idea that all students get to major in one of the many professions off the playing court is historic and visionary. The fact of the matter is for every player in the WNBA and the NBA there are at least 1,000 job opportunities off the court,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Walt Frazier, current Knicks announcer, former Knicks player and a former teammate of Earl Monroe, was also extremely proud to be a part of the event. He proclaimed his desire to return to the school in the future to interact with students once again, and added that the students would receive Knicks paraphernalia, Knicks tickets and visits from other celebrities. He also emphasized his belief in the mission of the school. “Basketball is secondary… I tell people I played twelve years in the NBA, this year is my 31st as a Knick announcer.”
Since its 2021 inception, the Earl Monroe School has already shown signs of success. According to the school, the average literacy levels of students have gone from fourth grade to just below ninth grade. Since March 2022, the rate of students that have passed the New York State Regents exams has increased from less than one percent to 68%. In addition, the volunteer business club students have created a sportswear-based clothing line called “Eventually” that will begin selling products in February 2025.
Jack Irushalmi, the co-chair of the Board of Trustees, said, “50% of our 14- and 15-year-old freshmen were reading on kindergarten through fourth-grade levels. Everyone representing the educational status quo told us ‘there was no way’ we could effectively make any positive changes since the school year had already started, and all literacy teachers in the school system were employed.” You might ask, then, where the school has been getting the help to achieve its success so far.
Julius Randle, a power forward for the Knicks for the past few seasons, began a program called “30 for 3,” where he would donate $500 for each 3-pointer he sank during the season. Numerous other organizations, including the Knicks, joined in, offering to donate anywhere from $1 to $250 per 3-pointer. This campaign has already raised a total of $1.2 million for the school’s literacy enhancement program. To show Randle appreciation, the school will be naming the new basketball court the “Julius Randle All-Star Court.”
It’s interesting to see the growth and development of a “basketball school” that is not focused on on-court activities. The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School was made with a new concept in mind, something that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. On one hand, it may not be the top option for teenagers looking to play in the NBA, and it is also peculiar to see individuals who are involved in the sport’s biggest stage tell the students that basketball is secondary, and everything starts with the books. It does not seem like the most conducive strategy for kids with aspirations to be professional basketball players. Plenty of NBA players, past and present, have not been the sharpest in the classroom. On the other hand, students who love basketball that are looking to maximize their chances of working within the sport in an off-court capacity might have their eyes on a new home.
