Coach Mario Andrade, right, uses the Chicano Basketball League as a tool to inspire youth and build pride in their cultural heritage. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Moore/Chicano Basketball League)
WADDELL – The buzzer sounded marking the end of the day’s second game. As athletes exchanged high-fives, some celebrated while others regrouped with their families. Players on the winning team stood patiently awaiting the announcement of the game’s MVP.
When the name was announced, a wave of emotion washed over the young man’s face as he gleamed with excitement. Rushing to center court, his parents and teammates jumped in celebration for their most valuable player.
It was a true display of family and community. Regardless of the final score, the young man was embraced not only by his parents and teammates but also by the fans and crew sitting in the crowd who cheered for a young man they had never met.
With Latino representation from across Arizona and California – and ambitions to expand throughout the Southwest and into Mexico – the Chicano Basketball League continues to unite families and communities. On the final Saturday in March, 12 teams competed as more than 100 kids eagerly took the court, joined by hundreds of supportive family members.
The league represents a familia – one where young athletes proudly embrace their Latino heritage on the court, with the presence of generations standing together off of it: grandparents, parents and children alike.
Co-founded by Joe Leon, the league referred to as the “Best Kept Secret” serves as more than just a platform for youth basketball. It is a pathway to opportunity, while offering mentorship and discipline that extends far beyond the sport.
Underclassmen boys teams share a moment on the court after their game during the Chicano Basketball League event in Waddell on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Moore/Chicano Basketball League)
“Family is the most important thing,” Leon said. “At the end of the day, our family is what makes us – that’s our DNA. Seeing grandparents with their grandkids or kids with their parents – that is exactly what this organization stands for and what this event is about.”
Walking up to Canyon View High School – which sits between the White Tank Mountains and Luke Air Force Base, west of Phoenix – the aroma of food vendors, and sounds of children playing filled the air. Inside the gymnasium, vibrant Chicano Basketball League jerseys stood out as parents’ cheers were heard over the dribble of a basketball.
For Leon and key sponsors like Robert Garcia, the league is a deeply personal mission. Growing up in tough neighborhoods where division was common and older kids often led the way into negative influences, they saw firsthand how easy it was to get lost. Garcia, who has known Leon for years, is one of the league’s main sponsors through his company Arizaz Heating and Cooling.
Together, they aim to create a space where the next generation doesn’t have to face those same obstacles.
“Give them a platform,” Garcia said, “to use their talents, get them off the streets or out of mundane life, and provide them with guidance and hope – something different from the neighborhood lifestyle they are in.”
For the Leon family, the significance of this league is a testament to their family’s legacy. Leon’s love for the game is not just his own; it’s shared by his two sons, Jojo and Junior, who once played in this very league with aspirations of competing at the next level. However, according to the brothers, they were overlooked simply due to where they were raised.
For brothers, sons, and now fathers, the league represents a true family moment. A league that Leon helped start over 25 years ago has evolved into a platform where they can now give back. It’s a place where they can mentor the next generation, including their own children, within the same community and organization that helped shape them.
“It means the world helping people as much as you can, especially our kind of people who don’t get a chance a lot,” Junior said.
The phrase “The Best Kept Secret” isn’t just a slogan on a jersey; it’s a statement. It is also a tribute to Latino youth, who remain underrepresented in basketball – often due to the communities they come from and the sport’s limited tradition within Latino culture.
“I wanted to link hearts with Joe to make something that leaves an everlasting impression on these kids,” Garcia said. “These kids don’t have to be the product of their environment but the change.”
While mentorship was a central focus throughout the day, the children were also eager to prove themselves on the court. Games kicked off at 10 a.m. and continued until 4:15 p.m., with boys and girls from all age groups showing off their skills.
Underclassmen girls gather on the court after their game in Waddell on Saturday, March 29, 2025, during a full day of competition hosted by the Chicano Basketball League. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Moore/Chicano Basketball League)
According to Latin Times, as of the 2023-24 season, only 13 Latino athletes were represented in the NBA – a number that both Joe Leon and other coaches hope to increase in the future.
The two brothers, once talented basketball players in their youth, were never given the opportunity to showcase their abilities simply because of limited opportunities in their environment. Now, the Chicano Basketball League is more than just a way for them to support young athletes, it’s a way of creating the opportunities they never had.
“When we were younger we didn’t have the same opportunity, we were pretty good in high school but didn’t really get to showcase ourselves,” Jojo said.
The league’s influence reaches beyond just youth athletes. It also resonates deeply with the coaches and staff involved. From the Leon family to coach Mario Andrade, the influence is far-reaching. For Andrade, stepping into the role of a first-time coach and mentor means everything.
“It taught me to be an inspiration and leader to these kids, to keep them off the streets and we can do anything with these kids but we need to keep them straight,” Andrade said.
As the final buzzers sounded, the cheers of parents and teammates echoed throughout the gym, signaling not just the end of a game, but a celebration of something much greater.
It’s a lifelong commitment to family and mentorship, one that ensures that future generations of Latino athletes have a place where kids can be kids.
“I never imagined the league would grow this big, but it serves a purpose, and that purpose is culture, community and Latino basketball for kids,” Leon said.