Brooklyn, NY — MADE Hoops, the leading grassroots basketball platform in the United States, and HMBL Development, the Brooklyn-based basketball development company founded by longtime elite trainer Justin Bright, announced today a partnership to open a 15,000-square-foot elite player-development facility at 24 Carlton Avenue in Brooklyn. The gym, scheduled to open in early 2026, will operate year-round with a singular focus on long-term skill, athletic, and physical development for youth athletes.
Bright, who has coached youth players for more than a decade, will lead basketball programming at the new facility through his organization HMBL Development, a beloved Brooklyn brand founded in 2014 with a track record of both elite development and community involvement.
Chad Babel, founder and CEO of MADE Hoops, said: “This is another step in bringing MADE Hoops to the forefront of player development and really investing in our kids. Justin and his team are among the best trainers when it comes to developing core fundamentals and skills, and that’s what we want MADE players to have access to year round. He’s built an incredible brand from the ground up in Brooklyn, and we couldn’t be prouder to work with him.”
The new partnership and facility from MADE Hoops comes at a pivotal time for the sport. While youth basketball in the U.S. has exploded in participation, coaches and executives increasingly point to a widening gap in fundamental skill development compared to European and international academies. MADE, which stands for Maximizing Athletes Development and Exposure, is dedicated to investing and growing talent in the U.S.
Justin Bright, founder of HMBL Development, said: “For years, the U.S. system has focused on exposure over development. European academies have shown what happens when you teach movement, skill, and discipline from a young age. That’s what we’ve built at HMBL — and with MADE Hoops, we can now deliver it at scale and make a difference in even more kids’ lives.”
Top national prospects Deron Rippey Jr., the country’s top-ranked point guard in the high school class of 2026, De’Naya Rippey, a sophomore forward at St. Peter’s University, and Kiyan Anthony, a Syracuse freshman, all came up through Bright’s development system. Bright will be joined by his team of six veteran coaches and trainers — all born and raised in Brooklyn with international playing experience from the college and professional levels.
Blair Academy senior Deron Rippey Jr. said: “Training with Justin has helped me expand my game on each of the three levels–a pro approach to consistently being good at the skills that will keep me on the floor at the next level. Justin challenges me every day in the gym, simulating adversity and holding me to a pro standard that’s just different. His creativity and vision for the game separate him from other trainers, and his character and humility make him a better person. MADE Hoops opening up a gym in my community means the world to me. I grew up in a basketball program at the community center, so I know what it feels like to have a gym nearby. I started playing in MADE Hoops in 7th grade, and I’m grateful.”
St. Peter’s University sophomore De’Naya Rippey said: “Justin has truly changed my life, shaping me not only as a player but as a person on and off the court,” said. “He has constantly challenged me, pushing me past limits I didn’t even know I had, and his vision for the game is on a whole different level from other trainers. He sees things before they happen and teaches the game in a way that makes everything click. His belief in me helped develop my game to a Division I level, turning my goals into reality. But what means the most is the kind of person he is — genuine, committed, and truly a blessing in my life. By opening a gym in my neighborhood, he’s giving kids who don’t always get the same opportunities the chance to experience his mentorship, his knowledge, and his heart. Justin’s impact reaches far beyond basketball. He’s changing lives, including mine, in more ways than he’ll ever know.”
Syracuse freshman Kiyan Anthony said: “When I think about my early years in basketball, Justin is one of the first people who comes to mind. He didn’t just train me – he pushed me, made me tougher, and taught me how to really understand the game. A lot of who I am as a player started with those workouts. I’ll always appreciate the time he put into me when I was younger trying to figure it all out.”
LaLa Anthony, Kiyan’s mother, said: “Justin played such an important role in Kiyan’s early basketball years. He taught him the fundamentals, pushed him the right way, taught him how to be tough, and really helped build his confidence. He’s just an excellent trainer and a true teacher of the game, and I’m grateful for everything he poured into Kiyan when he was first starting out.”
The partnership continues MADE Hoops’ focus on investing in and elevating the grassroots basketball ecosystem with partners who have dedicated themselves to serving the youth community.
The gym, located at 24 Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene, will include a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning zone focused on plyometrics, speed, agility, and core strength. Programming will operate year-round, seven days a week, integrating on-court skill work with off-court athletic performance to help players become stronger, faster, and more resilient.
Adam Berkowitz, Chief Operating Officer of sports-based youth development non-profit New Heights and one of several elite program directors that works with HMBL, said: “New Heights is excited to grow our longstanding partnerships with Justin, HMBL and MADE Hoops. This space will not only serve elite athletes, but expand much-needed access for the larger Brooklyn and New York City basketball communities.”
Together with Bright, MADE Hoops will also use the facility to host community clinics and youth programs in partnership with local schools and organizations.
The Brooklyn facility will serve as the first in a series of player development centers from HMBL Development and MADE Hoops, all planned in key basketball markets across the country.
