30 | APRIL 28 • 2022

B

asketball is a great
way to bring the
Jewish community
together.
That’s Daniel Shamayev’s
strong belief, and
the major reason
why the energetic
21-year-old
Keego Harbor
resident has
formed the
Detroit Jewish
Basketball
League that will debut this
summer.
Games in the weekly adult
men’s league will run from
8-10 p.m. June 1 through
Aug. 17 on the three courts
in the recently renovated
17,000-square-foot gym at
Beech Woods Recreation
Center in Southfield.
“I’m aiming for 100 guys
on 12 teams, at least eight
players on a team, with
three divisions of four
teams,” Shamayev said. “The
divisions will be separated
by the age and skill levels of
the players. Players can form
their own team or be part of
the pool for the May 11 draft.
Subs also are needed.

“What’s most important in
the league is that everyone
has fun, and the games are
competitive. It’s no fun when
your team gets blown out
every week.
“The league will be a
great way for players to
expand their network of
Jewish connections and play
with and against Jewish
community members with
diverse backgrounds.”
Shamayev said
he had 65 player
signups for the
league through
last week.
With the
support of
different parts of
the Jewish community that
he finds “truly inspiring,”
he said, he’s well on the way
to reaching his goal of 100
players.
Dylan Bressler has signed
up to play in the league.
The 24-year-old Royal
Oak resident and first-year
University of Detroit Mercy
Law School student has
an impressive basketball
background.
He won two gold medals,

a silver medal and a bronze
medal in four years playing
for Detroit in the JCC
Maccabi Games, then he
played for Frankel Jewish
Academy, Adrian College
and Keiser University in
Florida, where he played
for legendary coach Rollie
Massimino.
“Basketball is big in the
Jewish community here.
Now there’s an opportunity
for Jewish guys to play in a
basketball league with other
Jewish guys, and make new
friends and connections,”
Bressler said.
“That’s a big reason why I
love sports. You can be out
and see someone shooting
a basketball, join him, and
in five or 10 minutes, you’re
friends.”
Games in the Detroit
Jewish Basketball League will
be two 20-minute running
time halves except for the
final two minutes of the
second half.
Michigan high school
basketball rules will be used
because Michigan High
School Athletic Association
officials will work the games.

There will be regular-
season games, a two-week
mid-season tournament and
three weeks of playoffs.
Besides crowning the
league champion, the final
night of the playoffs will have
a banquet and all-star game.
All-stars will be selected by a
vote of league players.
Player registration fees will
pay for a team jersey for each
player, court rental costs,
referees and scorekeepers.
Want to play in the league
or be a sponsor to help defray
costs? Contact Shamayev
at (248) 797-3763 or
danielrshamayev@gmail.com.
This is the second weekly
Jewish adult men’s basketball
league that Shamayev has
formed.
He put together the Detroit
Shul Basketball League in a
few days last summer. About
40 men participated. Games
were played at Farber Hebrew
Day School in Southfield.
Bressler was the league’s
leading scorer. He had 124
points in eight games.

Please send sports news to

stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

Detroit Jewish Basketball League
will tip off this summer.
Order on the Court

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Daniel
Shamayev

DANIEL SHAMAYEV

Dylan
Bressler

DYLAN BRESSLER

SOUTHFIELD PARKS & RECREATION

Beech Woods
Recreation Center in
Southfield will be the
home of the Detroit
Jewish Basketball
League this summer.

SPORTS