If you ever sat in the bleachers at the old Central High Gym on a packed night, you remember the feeling. You walked through those double doors and the air was thick with excitement. Sneakers screeched across the floor, and the crowd pulsed with energy after every made shot. Fans filled the bleachers shoulder to shoulder and even spilled onto the stage behind the rim. Those nights were electric, the kind of moments that made you fall in love with the game forever.
For years, St. Croix Basketball sat at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and community on the big island. It shaped friendships, birthed rivalries, and inspired generations. It was where talent met heart.
But after the storms, the league, once one of the main attractions of the summer, slowly disappeared, and the familiar rhythm of Virgin Islands basketball grew quiet. Gyms were damaged, programs were disrupted, and the summer gatherings that brought players, families, and fans together under one roof faded away. The courts were still there, the players still played, and the love for the game never left, but the tradition was gone.
For many, it felt like more than the loss of a league. It was the loss of a season, a gathering place, and a sense of identity. The sound of the crowd, the energy in the gym, and the rivalries that carried from one summer to the next all drifted into memory.
But the passion never died. It just waited for a home to return to.
That home is here. It’s called the Real Basketball Association, born from the same spirit that once filled the gyms and fueled by the same love that has always lived on the courts.
Founded in 2024 by Leonardo Castillo, with guidance from local legends Donald Bough and Kevin “Tigan” Sheppard, and supported by many others, the RBA was created to restore not just games, but pride, connection, and community.
What began as a dream to bring back organized, high-level basketball has grown into the territory’s fastest-rising sports platform. The league now features eight competitive teams, more than forty games each season, and thousands of fans watching both in person and online.
The RBA isn’t just reviving the game. It is rebuilding a culture. It proves that basketball in the Virgin Islands can be more than entertainment. It is community, mentorship, and opportunity all rolled into one.
More Than a League
The RBA is about more than basketball. It is about rebuilding what the game meant to the island. Under the umbrella of Choices Basketball, the league blends competition with mentorship, youth development, and community impact. Its mission is simple: to use basketball as a tool for empowerment, discipline, and unity.
Each season feels like a homecoming. The sounds, faces, and rivalries are familiar, but elevated. Fans once again feel that rush when the lights come on and the ball goes up, while younger players now have a professional platform to showcase their talent and elevate their game.
And it is not just what happens on the court. Fans can follow their favorite players and teams, track stats and standings, and watch post-game interviews and highlights. The RBA has reignited more than competition; it has reignited connection. It has rebuilt that sense of pride that makes the island stop and pay attention when great basketball is being played.
The People Behind the Revival
Every great comeback starts with people who refuse to let the story end. The return of organized basketball in St. Croix was not built by one person. It was built by a community united by passion, effort, and love for the game.
To everyone who helps set up courts, track stats, create graphics, manage social media pages, and keep the games running, thank you. Your behind-the-scenes work makes this possible. To the folks who turn each game into a story the whole island can follow, from photographers and videographers to editors and announcers, your creativity keeps the excitement alive long after the final buzzer.
To the coaches, teams, and organizers who kept basketball alive after the storms by hosting tournaments, training players, and creating opportunities when the league was gone, you carried the torch and kept the culture breathing. The RBA stands on your foundation.
To the sponsors and partners who believed in this vision, thank you for investing in the dream and helping make basketball sustainable in the Virgin Islands. Your support fuels growth, visibility, and pride across the territory.
To the players and coaches who chose to compete in the RBA, thank you for trusting the league, bringing your talent, and giving fans something to rally behind. You have restored the excitement that once filled the gyms and reminded everyone what Virgin Islands basketball looks like at its best.
Finally, to the fans, the ones in the stands, the ones tuning in online, the ones sharing every post, you are the heartbeat of this revival. Every cheer, every comment, and every show of support helps carry this movement forward.
When the Virgin Islands comes together, players, coaches, fans, and sponsors alike, the game does not just return. It rises higher than ever before.
Real Hoops. Real Passion. Right Here in Paradise.