Telangana Junior Basketball League launched; sets record with ₹1.48 Crore franchise auctions

New Delhi : The Telangana Basketball Association (TBA) has launched the Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL), a first-of-its-kind grassroots initiative to identify and develop young talent. Inspired by the Telangana Professional Basketball League (TPBL), the league has already drawn over 3,000 registrations across Under-15 and Under-18 categories for boys and girls, including strong participation from rural areas.

Following week-long trials, 400 players (top 100 from each category) were shortlisted and felicitated at Shilpakala Vedika. The franchise auction at Ridhira Retreat saw 10 bidders compete for six teams — Hyderabad Hurricanes, Vikarabad Predators, Nalgonda Ninjas, Rangareddy Rulers, Warangal Wildfires, and Medak Monsters — which were sold for a combined ₹1.48 crore, making TJBL the first youth basketball league in India to achieve franchise sales at this scale. The player auction is scheduled for May 22.

The initiative is led by Ambati Prudhvishwar Reddy, Indian National Basketball Team player and General Secretary, TBA, who has represented India internationally and played in Spain, the USA, and Thailand. Since taking office in 2025, he has introduced key reforms including Coaches and Referee Clinics, a digital player database, and the TPBL (₹1.27 crore franchise sales). Under his leadership, a structured pathway spanning School, Junior, College, Club, and Professional leagues has been created with a strong focus on grassroots and rural development.

Speaking about the vision, Prudhvishwar Reddy said, “The mission is to make Telangana a basketball hub for India and produce future national and international stars, including players capable of reaching the NBA level.”

With record participation, strong investor interest, and a structured ecosystem, Telangana is rapidly emerging as a key basketball hub in India.