In many ways, it’s a typical Nueva basketball game: sneakers squeaking, players shouting, balls arcing through the air. But these aren’t high schoolers jockeying for a spot on the varsity team or college rosters. This Saturday morning, players include Nueva MS SEL teacher Jared Briggs and PE teacher Azmi Mamis, Nueva dads both past and present, and even Head of School Lee Fertig and his son, Sam.
This is the Nueva Community Basketball League (NCBL), a casual group that has been meeting weekly to play ball for over 18 years.
Founded by Joon Yun, an alumni parent, the group started as the Nueva Dads Basketball League (NDBL), playing four-on-four in a small Burlingame gym called Nothing But Hoops. Later, they moved to a warehouse in Redwood City, before eventually migrating to the Hillsborough campus GCC, their current home.
The name change from NDBL to NCBL reflects the group’s growing inclusivity: not only do teachers (and administrators) play, the players have also begun to invite friends and children.
These days, members range in age from 15 to 65 and have a variety of abilities and experiences. Some only started playing basketball with the group; others, like Briggs, have experience playing in serious leagues. But they’re all united by their love of the game and the community they’ve found.
Custom jerseys with nicknames, individually ordered, are an NCBL staple; current parent Benn Williams wears his NCBL jersey emblazoned with “Brick.”
“It means both my shot, which is often a brick, or a solid pick,” Williams explained.
Other players with custom jerseys include Robert Jansen, “The Great Wall”; Curtis Chen, “Hat Trick”; Lee Fertig, “The Tig”; and his son, “Tiglet.”
These nicknames are just one reflection of the culture of playful camaraderie that the group has cultivated over the years.
“There’s an ethos that permeates the original guys here, this ethos that focuses on a lot of what Nueva stands for,” parent Tai Hsia said. “Even if you win, whoever is sitting gets to play next.”
Alumni parent Bart Miller similarly emphasized the joy of collaboration. “I love team sports—it’s more fun making good passes than scoring the ball,” he said. “And I’m not the only one out here who likes that.”
Mamis said that physical scuffles and aggression are common in pick-up games, but the NCBL’s spirit is different.
“We play hard but not to the point of winning at all costs. Everybody is chill, there are no arguments,” he said. “Here, somebody falls, and it’s like, ‘old man down!’”
The group’s focus on injury prevention also sets it apart—and it’s important, since the average NCBL player is middle-aged. “Everybody here wants to win, but they prioritize not hurting others and not hurting themselves,” Hsia said.
But it wasn’t always that way. “We were really rough and tumble in [the early] days and there were a lot of early injuries, because we were younger and we weren’t as careful with ourselves,” Miller said. “I’ve gotten stitches from here.”
For newer members like Hsia, the athleticism of players like Miller is an inspiration. “Some of these guys are older than me and they’re in much better shape,” Hsia said. “Playing with them each week really motivates me to put more time and energy toward health and fitness.”
Meanwhile, Miller wants to thank Yoon and the early members for establishing the group and its culture: “The old guys who aren’t here any more—I still remember them, and I’d love for them to come back out,” he said.
Along with the fellowship that comes from parents playing together—chatting about kids, getting advice about going through the school—Mamis said his position as a teacher gives him unique opportunities for connection.
“Getting to know [parents] not as a parent but as a teammate, as an opponent, [is] really nice,” he said. “And then when I see them later at school, I feel comfortable chatting with them.”
Briggs shared a similar sentiment. “Every student’s dad I’ve played hoops with has managed to score on me,” he said. “They don’t let me live it down, but it’s honestly the highlight of my weekend.”
Others say that playing with the NCBL has taught them valuable lessons, even off the court. “Show up with what you got. Find what you have to contribute,” Miller said. “That’s a life lesson that I’ve taken other places. But it came from here.”
The group is always open to new members who are curious about the game or want a chance to brush up on their skills.
“Don’t worry about if you’ve never played or not,” Mamis said. “We have people who come by who have never played basketball before and they’ve started really enjoying the game.”
So, take note: Saturdays, 9 a.m., the Hillsborough gym.