About
Rancho Santa Margarita NJB offers basketball games and basketball practices for boys and girls through its Rookie, Divisional, All-Net, BYT, and High School League programs. The Rookie League includes an 8-week session that meets every Sunday with a 30-minute practice followed by a 30-minute game, and the Divisional program includes an 8-game regular season. Games in the program are refereed by certified referees, many of whom also referee at the high school and collegiate level.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Rookies meet for an 8-week Sunday session with 30-minute practices and 30-minute games; Divisional players have an 8-game regular season typically on Sundays, with possible Saturdays based on gym availability
National Junior Basketball is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1984 by Dennis Murphy, Jr. Murphy had the vision of creating a youth basketball league based on sportsmanship and player development. The core of the organization is centered on the Divisional Play Program that is open to boys and girls in 2nd through 8th grade, with players divided into divisions by grade level and teams formed through an evaluation and draft process. For those in kindergarten and 1st grade, a Rookie League is provided that stresses the fundamentals of the game and provides tools for personal growth, including separate boys and girls teams, a smaller basket, a smaller basketball, and high-quality reversible jerseys, and Rookies are able to request friends and coaches.
In the Divisional program, boys and girls in 2nd through 8th grade play on separate boys and girls teams, wear high-quality reversible jerseys, and have games with a certified scorekeeper where standings are kept. Divisional coaches determine practice time and location, with a limit of no more than two practices per week and no more than three total hours of practice time per week. The season concludes with playoffs, trophies or awards, and the possibility of being named to an All-Star Team for additional play. For individuals with an advanced skill set, the All-Net and BYT programs act as a supplement to the Divisional Program and provide additional training to prepare them for high school basketball in the future, and the High School League offers competition and skill training for players in grades 9–12 who did not make their high school team or who are looking for off-season play.
National Junior Basketball has participants in four states: California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada, and over 1,000,000 participants have gone through these programs.
Last updated July 27, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Rookies meet for an 8-week Sunday session with 30-minute practices and 30-minute games; Divisional players have an 8-game regular season typically on Sundays, with possible Saturdays based on gym availability
National Junior Basketball is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1984 by Dennis Murphy, Jr. Murphy had the vision of creating a youth basketball league based on sportsmanship and player development. The core of the organization is centered on the Divisional Play Program that is open to boys and girls in 2nd through 8th grade, with players divided into divisions by grade level and teams formed through an evaluation and draft process. For those in kindergarten and 1st grade, a Rookie League is provided that stresses the fundamentals of the game and provides tools for personal growth, including separate boys and girls teams, a smaller basket, a smaller basketball, and high-quality reversible jerseys, and Rookies are able to request friends and coaches.
In the Divisional program, boys and girls in 2nd through 8th grade play on separate boys and girls teams, wear high-quality reversible jerseys, and have games with a certified scorekeeper where standings are kept. Divisional coaches determine practice time and location, with a limit of no more than two practices per week and no more than three total hours of practice time per week. The season concludes with playoffs, trophies or awards, and the possibility of being named to an All-Star Team for additional play. For individuals with an advanced skill set, the All-Net and BYT programs act as a supplement to the Divisional Program and provide additional training to prepare them for high school basketball in the future, and the High School League offers competition and skill training for players in grades 9–12 who did not make their high school team or who are looking for off-season play.
National Junior Basketball has participants in four states: California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada, and over 1,000,000 participants have gone through these programs.
Last updated July 27, 2026.
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