Creating Opportunity Through Basketball
The Cleveland Project expands opportunity through education and sport, empowering young athletes in Cleveland and Northern Ireland. We develop school-aged youth in Northern Ireland through basketball coaching, competition, and mentorship, using sport to foster growth and cross-community engagement. We support Cleveland’s student-athletes with postgraduate scholarships, enabling them to continue their education and playing careers overseas—while also serving as coaches and mentors in the Northern Ireland basketball program. Through the Ohio tax credit initiative, we provide educational resources for disadvantaged youth in Cleveland, ensuring brighter futures through access to opportunity.
By bridging basketball, education, and opportunity across Cleveland and Northern Ireland, The Cleveland Project opens doors for young people to grow as athletes, scholars, and leaders—creating a future where talent and ambition are never limited by circumstance.
"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 fours years, our programme has exploded. Year 5 will be even bigger.
🏀 CLEVELAND ALL-STAR TRIALS 2026 🏀
Born 2013 & 2014
The Cleveland Board is delighted to invite clubs to nominate their top young talent to trial for our Cleveland All-Stars Programme 2026.
We’re looking for:
👉 3 Boys & 3 Girls per club
👉 Players ready to compete, grow, and represent at the next level
📅 TRIAL DATES
Girls Trials
• Sunday 19 April | 2:30 – 4:30pm (Trial 1)
• Sunday 26 April | 2:30 – 4:30pm (Trial 2)
Boys Trials
• Sunday 19 April | 4:30 – 6:30pm (Trial 1)
• Sunday 26 April | 4:30 – 6:30pm (Trial 2)
🌍 This programme is about more than basketball…
Selected players will have opportunities for elite coaching, development, and potential international experiences as part of the Cleveland pathway.
📩 HOW TO APPLY
All nominated players must complete the official application form and return by:
Friday 10 April 2026
📧 breda.clevelandproject@gmail.com
📝 Application form available in bio
🔥 Don’t miss your chance to be part of something special.
#ClevelandProject #AllStars #NextGeneration #basketballni
Apr 13
⛳ FINAL CALL FOR SPONSORS ⛳
We’re almost there — and this is your last chance to get involved as a sponsor in The Cleveland Project Golf Tournament!
📅 Thursday 23rd April 2026
📍 Dunmurry Golf Club
This event supports one of our key initiatives — creating opportunities for young people through basketball, education and international pathways.
💼 Sponsorship Opportunities (Final Few Remaining):
• Tee Box Sponsorship
• Prize Sponsorship
• General Donations
By sponsoring, you’ll:
✔️ Support youth sport and education
✔️ Gain visibility for your business
✔️ Be part of a growing cross-community initiative
🚨 Limited spots left — don’t miss out!
👉 Message us today to secure your sponsorship and help make a real impact.
📞 07791692993
📧 fergusdonnelly23@gmail.com
Apr 9
🏀 Shoutout to Coach Jacob!
Brilliant work by Coach Jacob with the P6 pupils at Scoil na Móna 👏
It’s been great to see the kids growing in confidence, improving their skills, and most importantly enjoying their basketball every week 🙌
We’re looking ahead to Term 3 (P4 & P6) starting week beginning 13 April, with blitz days in early June — and we’d love to see even more schools involved!
👉 If you want your P4 or P6 class to take part, sign up: link in bio
#TheClevelandProject #SchoolBasketball #FutureStars 🏀
Apr 7
Happy Easter to all our supporters, coaches and players. We hope you have a lovely weekend. 🏀🍫🙏#theclevelandproject #creatingopportunitythroughbasketball
Apr 5
🇺🇸🏀 Celebrating Our Cleveland Project Scholars
One of the key initiatives within The Cleveland Project is our Scholarship Programme — and we’re proud to have supported four outstanding scholars to date: Danny, Ryan, Patrick and Clare 🙌
Studying at Queen’s University Belfast, they bring incredible leadership, energy and sporting excellence to our community — serving as coaches, mentors and role models for young players across Northern Ireland.
Their impact goes far beyond basketball, helping shape the next generation both on and off the court.
⛳ Support the Next Scholar
Our Golf Tournament is helping fund the next scholar and grow this initiative.
👉 Get involved and be part of what comes next.
📞 07791692993
📧 fergusdonnelly23@gmail.com
@qubelfast @phoenixbasketballni
#ClevelandProject #CharityEvent #GolfDay
Apr 1
⛳ LAST FEW FOURBALLS REMAINING! ⛳
We’re almost SOLD OUT for our Cleveland Project Golf Tournament – just a handful of teams left!
📅 Thursday 23rd April 2026
📍 Dunmurry Golf Club
⏰ 12:30pm registration | 1:30pm shotgun start
✔️ 18 holes + competitions
✔️ Goodie bags & prizes
✔️ Post-golf food & auction
All in support of creating opportunity through sport with basketball.
🚨 Don’t miss out – grab one of the final fourballs now or get involved through sponsorship or donations!
📞 07791692993
📧 fergusdonnelly23@gmail.com
Mar 26
In a hard fought battle, Rockets manage to push through for the win. Well done to @galwaymystics for their valiant effort.
Rockets are through to the next round!! 🥳🚀 @basketball_ireland @basketball_ni #theclevelandproject #clevelandproject #basketballni #wd1
Mar 21
🎉 In case you needed another reason to go…
We’ve got some great Auction Prizes up for grabs at The Cleveland Project Golf Day 👇
🏖 A week in a luxury mobile home in Portstewart
⛳ A round at the Portstewart Championship Course
⚾ 4 Corporate Tickets to see the Belfast Giants
Not bad, right?
All in support of an incredible cause ❤️
👉 Limited spaces remaining — don’t miss out
👉 Contact Gus on 07791692993 or email fergusdonnelly23@gmail.com
#ClevelandProject #GolfDay #CharityEvent #NIEvents #auction
Mar 20
🏀 Year 8 Blitz – Cup & Shield Competitions 🏆
What a fantastic day of basketball at today’s Year 8 Blitz Cup & Shield Competitions, with schools bringing incredible energy, skill, and competitive spirit to the court!
A huge well done to all the teams who took part:
St. Joseph’s
St. Dominic’s
Rathmore
Knocktemple
St. Mary’s
St. Malachy’s
St. Patrick’s
Lagan College
Laurelhill College
Saintfield High
Holy Trinity
St. Louise’s
Lecale Trinity
Ulidia
From start to finish, the standard of basketball on display was outstanding — with players showing great teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship across both the Cup and Shield competitions. 👏
A big thank you to all the teachers, coaches, and supporters who made the day possible.
🙌 Well done to everyone involved — the future of basketball is in great hands!
#TheClevelandProject #SchoolBasketball #Year8 #BasketballCommunity #FutureStars 🏀
Mar 19
🏀 Easter Basketball Camps Are Back! 🐣
We are delighted to announce our Hard2Guard x The Cleveland Project Easter Camps, taking place on:
📅 Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th April
This year we have two fantastic locations:
📍 Lisburn Racquets Club – 10am–1pm (Ages 5–18)
📍 Newforge Sports Centre – 10am–1pm (Ages 7–18)
💷 £50 per child
Our camps are packed with skill development, games, competitions, and fun, all delivered by our experienced coaching team.
⚠️ Important: Our camps are often oversubscribed, with many children missing out.
👉 Secure your place now: link in bio
You’ll be asked to confirm your details, select your camp, and complete payment.
⏳ Registration closes: midnight, 5th April
We can’t wait to see everyone back in the gym for another brilliant few days of basketball! 🏀🔥
Mar 18
🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day 💚
Sending lots of love from all of us here in Ireland to our amazing friends and supporters in the US.
We’re so grateful for the connections, the friendships, and all the support you give us 🌍🏀
From our basketball family to yours — Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 💚
#StPatricksDay #ClevelandProject #BasketballFamily #irelandtousa
Mar 17
📸 A Look Back at an Incredible Week of Primary 7 Blitz Basketball 🏀
Last week was a brilliant celebration of school basketball as our Primary 7 Blitz events brought together schools from across Northern Ireland after eight weeks of coaching, learning, and preparation.
The courts were full of energy, teamwork, and excitement as pupils enjoyed the chance to represent their schools, compete, and celebrate their progress throughout the programme.
A huge thank you to Rolandas Bartkus for capturing so many wonderful moments from the week. 📸👏
We were delighted to welcome pupils from the following schools:
Ballycraigy PS
Holy Trinity PS
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste
Poyntzpass PS
St. Joseph’s PS Lisburn
Tonagh PS
The Wallace HS Prep
St. Colman’s PS
St. Joseph’s Carryduff
Moira PS
Lough View Integrated PS
Armagh Christian Brothers PS
Belvoir PS
Rockport School
St. Anne’s PS
St. Teresa’s PS
St. Bernard’s PS
Mount St. Catherine’s PS
Ballymacash PS
Carnalridge PS
Forthill Integrated PS
Harmony Hill PS
John Paul II PS
Largymore PS
St. Francis PS
St. Ita’s PS
A massive well done to all the players, teachers, and coaches who made the week such a success. We’re already looking forward to the next round of basketball action! 🙌
@rolandasbartkus_
#TheClevelandProject #SchoolBasketball #PrimarySchoolSport #CommunitySport #FuturePlayers 🏀📸
Mar 16