Creating Opportunity Through Basketball
The Cleveland Project is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization founded to provide school-aged youth in Northern Ireland access to quality coaching and competitive opportunities to participate in and observe all levels of the game of basketball. Our program reignites a partnership founded in the mid 1980s when a group of Cleveland, Ohio businessmen helped sponsor and promote the game in Northern Ireland.
Registration is open for our next program year. Inquire below.
"I love, I LOVE coaching enthusiastic kids! And the Cleveland Project has been very successful at getting school kids to be enthusiastic about basketball. I’m so happy to be part of this program to help these kids further themselves mentally and physically."
— Coach Kelvin Troy
Rutgers University '77-'81, Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame inductee
The Cleveland Project
In the first two years, our program has exploded. Year three will be even larger.
Monday has come again! 🏀 Back to the court this week and ready to put in the work!⠀
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#MondayMotivation #HoopSeason⠀
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Feb 10
Skills on skills on skills thanks to Coach Emily! 💯
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#ClevelandProject #NorthernIreland #BasketballNI #EducationNI #SchoolBasketball #YouthSport #InvestInOurYouth #CreatingOpportunityThroughBasketball #Charity
Jan 24
🏀 GAME TIME 🏀
CLEVELAND ROCKETS VS TEMPLEOGUE THIS WEEKEND!
Come and show your support for the squad!
📍National Basketball Arena
⏱️ 7:00PM
Head Coach Breda Dick:
"We have just signed a new American Megan Ormiston 6`2 from Colarado. Megan has been playing in Killarney this season with Superleague team St. Paul`s Killarney. We were delighted to pick her up as I feel she is a great fit for our team and she gives us the height we need.
In the first half of the season we lost to Templeogue by 7 points but we have shown much better form since then.
Charlie McGrath, Anna Brennan and Caitlin Gloeckner are a force to be reckoned with. All 3 girls are shooting well and are scoring double figures. Georgie McGrath is a stand out when it comes to rebounding and causes a headache for the opposition with her strong post moves.
Aoibheann Donnelly 16 years of age is making a real impact in her first season in the league.
She`s a tremendous defender and brings that extra energy needed on offence.
Eimile Rogers and Niamh O`Leary come off the bench and have been contributing really well in the league. Eimile is a strong defender and with her strong left hand she contributes well to the overall score. Niamh plays the post and picks up points from her jump shot around the key.
We are looking forward to Saturdays game again Templeogue in the National Basketball arena."
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#ClevelandProjectNI #BasketballIreland #Division1 #WomensBasketball #Ireland #Cleveland #NationalBasketballArena
Jan 21
Who says practicing your handles has to be boring? 🎈⠀
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Try dribbling a basketball while keeping a balloon in the air! It’s a fun, creative way for kids to work on their dribbling and vision skills. The challenge keeps them engaged, while improving coordination and focus. Plus, it`s a blast! 😄⠀
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Shoutout to Coach Emily for this great one!! 🙌⠀
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#ClevelandProjectNI #Basketball #NorthernIreland #SchoolBasketball #EducationNI #CreatingOpportunityThroughBasketball #InvestInOurYouth
Jan 19
🏀 New Year, More Cleveland Project in Northern Ireland! 🏀
As we kick off this exciting new year, we’re thrilled to announce that our foundation is bigger, better, and ready to bring MORE basketball to more kids than ever before! 🎉
Take a look at our highlights from one of our Cleveland Blitz days last term. We hope you`re excited for the next one!
This year we have a total of 6,500 kids participating in our schools program! That`s the most kids we`ve coached so far!
With a new school year underway, we’re expanding our programs and providing opportunities for young players to participate, learn, grow, and have fun on the court in a cross-community environment! Whether it’s improving skills, making new friends, or simply enjoying the game, we’re committed to making sure every child has a chance to play.
📽️: Rolandus Bartkus
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#ClevelandProject #ClevelandProjectNI #NorthernIreland #SchoolBasketball #CreatingOpportunityThroughBasketball #EducationNI #YouthBasketball #ClubParticipation #ParticipationPathway
Jan 18
Cleveland Project Initiatives: What are they?
#2 University Scholarships
It`s our aim to create opportunity through basketball and to create as much of it as we can. We sponsor dedicated young individuals with a passion for basketball to earn a degree at the prestigious Queen`s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Last year we sent Ryan Berger and Danny Lavelle to Queen`s as The Cleveland Project Scholars. Ryan has completed his Postgraduate Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Danny is in his second year of his Undergraduate Degree in Finance Management. Danny is joined this year by our newest Cleveland Project Scholar Patrick Daugherty.
SCHOLARSHIP BASKETBALL OPPORTUNITIES
Queen`s University:
- Throughout their time at Queen`s University, these talented young players play for the Queen’s University Basketball Club in the Varsities competition.
- They get the opportunity to be a member of the club’s basketball committee and help endorse the sport across campus and drive key decision making.
- Attend University events - last year the scholars met Enes Kanter Freedom at the One Young World Conference.
- Visa - 2 year work Visa post graduation.
Phoenix Basketball Club:
- Play for Phoenix Basketball Club in the BIDL and Premier Leagues.
- Coach one of the Phoenix Youth basketball teams (U12/U14/U16/U18/U20) boys and girls.
- Opportunities to do 1-on-1 training.
- Summer Camp Coaching at Hard2Guard X Cleveland Project Summer Clinics.
The Cleveland Project:
- Be an ambassador for the sport around the Belfast community.
- Coach basketball sessions in Primary and Secondary Schools (Scholars are paid for coaching).
- Help coach the Cleveland Blitz’s at the end of each 8-week school program.
- Coach the U13 Cleveland All-Star team. This gathers the best players from NI to come together, train, and compete against teams from all over the country. This year they travelled to play Murcia in Spain.
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#ClevelandProject #ClevelandProjectNI #NorthernIreland #EducationNI #Basketball #YouthBasketball #SkillDevelopment #CrossCommunity #BasketballNI #InvestInOurYouth #IrishAmerican #OpportunityThroughBasketball
Dec 15
What a superb first term of schools coaching for the Cleveland Project! 🏀⠀
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Shoutout to all the players, coaches, organisers, teachers, family members and supporters that continue to make the Cleveland Blitz such an exciting day that it is! ⠀
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It`s a team effort just like the game and it`s always a fantastic day bringing these young players together from all sides of the community to enjoy the sport we love so much! ⠀
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Here`s to next term!⠀
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#ClevelandProject #ClevelandProjectNI #NorthernIreland #EducationNI #SchoolsNI #Cleveland #America #YouthSports #InvestInOurYouth #CreatingOpportunityThroughBasketball
Dec 14
We present to you our medalists from the Cleveland Blitz! 🏅👏
Well done kiddos! 😁
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#ClevelandProject #ClevelandProjectNI #NorthernIreland #Basketball #EducationNI #SportNI #YouthBasketball #LittleBallers #Ireland #BasketballNI #InvestInOurYouth #Charity
Dec 11
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The Cleveland Blitz was a lot of fun last week!⠀
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Well done to all of the players who took to the court and gave it their all! ⠀
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Huge thank you to our coaches that put in the work coaching these kids basketball this term 👏⠀
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#ClevelandProject #ClevelandProjectNI #NorthernIreland #Ireland #EducationNI #SportNI #Ireland #BasketballIreland #Charity #CrossCommunity #InvestInOurYouth ⠀
Dec 7
Cleveland Rockets Head Coach Breda Dicks Match Report:
Cleveland Rockets - Oblate Dynamos
91 - 61
"Following on from our 3 in a row wins the Cleveland Rockets were determined to make it 4 in a row.
Rockets got off to a great start leading 28 -15 at the end of the first quarter.
It was a very fast-paced game with Caitlin Glockener who moved to Belfast this year to study medicine finishing on 16 points from fast breaks and hitting several outside shots. Caitlin has been a great addition to Rockets this season. Anna Brennan and Charlie McGrath are key players for the Rockets with both girls contributing a total of 16 points between them.
Jessica Fairweather hitting 3 x 3’s in the first quarter led the scoring followed by Georgie McGrath scoring 14 points and taking numerous rebounds.
Aoibheann Donnelly who is playing her first season in the Women’s National League made a real impact when she came into the game scoring 3 points in the first quarter and an additional 5 in the second quarter.
Aisling Murray with her impressive defensive pressure put the Oblates guards under pressure throughout.
Eimile Rogers Duffy played an excellent game adding 5 points with Niamh O’Leary playing great defence on the Oblate posts and Maeve Deery’s strength on the boards and her 3-pointer helped secure the win.
This game has been great preparation for the Cup quarter final next Sunday 8th December’24 against I secure Swords in Dublin at 4.30pm."
Scorers: Jess Fairweather 21, Caitlin Glockener 16, Georgie McGrath 14, Anna Brennan 9, Aoibheann Donnelly 8, Eimile Rogers Duffy 7, Charlie McGrath 7, Aisling Murray 4, Maeve Deery 3, Niamh O’Leary 2.
Oblates scorers: Adia Sanaa Brisker 15, Sophie Staunton 12, Samantha Massey 10, Jennifer Sheehan 10, Heather Meagher 6, Biana Baker Bruce 5, Shannon Whelan 2, Lauren Malone 1.
Dec 3