8 teams secure a coveted spot in the LYG Basketball Finals

28th May 2026

Yolanda Martin

Hundreds of young basketball players from across London came together at UEL SportsDock last weekend for two highly competitive days of basketball on 23-24 May 2026.

31 boys’ teams and 18 girls’ teams competed in round robin matches throughout the day, before moving into the knockout stages – with teams fiercely competing for a coveted place in the finals at Crystal Palace on 5 July 2026.

The inclusion of Basketball at the London Youth Games has helped launch the careers of several athletes. The likes of Luol Deng (Croydon), Steve Bucknall (Lambeth), Shanice Beckford-Norton (Newham), Savannah Wilkinson (Barking & Dagenham) and Temi Fagbenle (Haringey) all benefitted from this competition at the start of their careers.

The action-packed weekend saw 492 young people competing, with the top four teams from each day progressing to the finals.

Congratulations to the semi-finalists who progress to the LYG Basketball Finals on 5 July at the Crystal Palace:

Boys: Barnet, Southwark, Redbridge, Croydon
Girls: Richmond, Southwark, Barnet, Barking & Dagenham.

Samuel, Redbridge Boys Basketball participant said “I’m just so proud of us. We were definitely the underdogs in this situation, but we were able to pull through at the end. This is my first time at the London Youth Games, but I love it because I feel like there’s a lot of underestimated players that don’t have that showcase, but I feel like this organisation really helps people see particular people or underdogs, like us, how we can go through to the finals.”

A girls participant from Barnet added “This is my first time at London Youth Games, and it’s a great opportunity. I’ve gotten to play with girls I’ve never played with before, and it’s a nice way to experience teamwork and bonding.”

The LYG Basketball event is part of our commitment to create life-changing opportunities for young Londoners through sport and physical activity. London Youth Games is the UK’s largest city-wide youth sports programme and for 49 years, the charity has supported young people’s personal, physical and emotional development.

Thank you to all the officials and volunteers who ensured the events ran smoothly and thanks to the Borough Team Organisers and Team Managers who supported brilliantly on the day.