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