Telangana Junior Basketball League launches with ₹1.48 crore franchise sales and 3,000+ registrations across categories
New Delhi / Hyderabad: The Telangana Basketball Association (TBA) has introduced the Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL), a pioneering grassroots platform aimed at identifying and nurturing young basketball talent across the state. Inspired by the success of the Telangana Professional Basketball League (TPBL), the initiative has attracted more than 3,000 registrations in Under-15 and Under-18 categories for both boys and girls, with significant participation coming from rural regions as well.
After conducting week-long trials, the association shortlisted 400 players — the top 100 from each category — and felicitated them at Shilpakala Vedika. During the franchise auction held at Ridhira Retreat, 10 bidders competed to acquire six teams: Hyderabad Hurricanes, Vikarabad Predators, Nalgonda Ninjas, Rangareddy Rulers, Warangal Wildfires, and Medak Monsters. The franchises collectively fetched ₹1.48 crore, making TJBL the first youth basketball league in India to achieve franchise sales on such a scale. The organisers will conduct the player auction on May 22.
Ambati Prudhvishwar Reddy, Indian National Basketball Team player and General Secretary of TBA, is leading the initiative. He has represented India internationally and has played professional basketball in Spain, the USA, and Thailand. Since assuming office in 2025, he has introduced several reforms, including Coaches and Referee Clinics, a digital player database, and the Telangana Professional Basketball League (TPBL), which recorded ₹1.27 crore in franchise sales. Under his leadership, TBA has established a structured pathway that connects School, Junior, College, Club, and Professional leagues while maintaining a strong focus on grassroots and rural development.
Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, 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-breaking participation, growing investor interest, and a well-structured development ecosystem, Telangana is rapidly establishing itself as one of India’s leading basketball hubs.
