Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks youth basketball in DFW: Where to get your kids involved

If your kids love the Mavs and want to play basketball, DFW has excellent youth programs at every level.

Official Mavs programs:

  • Mavs Academy — Skills clinics run by Mavericks-affiliated coaches. Ages 6-17. Held at various DFW locations. $75-150 per camp. Source: mavs.com/academy.
  • Jr. Mavs — Youth league affiliated with the organization. Recreational and competitive divisions. Fall and spring seasons.

Club/competitive basketball:

  • DFW Elite — One of the top AAU programs in Texas. Competitive travel basketball for serious players. Tryouts in April and August.
  • Texas Titans — Another strong AAU program with DFW-area teams. Multiple age groups.
  • NTBA (North Texas Basketball Association) — Recreational league with multiple locations. Good for beginners. $100-150 per season.

Community options:

  • YMCA basketball leagues — Available at locations across DFW. Low cost ($50-100), recreational focus. Ages 4-18.
  • City recreation leagues — Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Arlington all have city-run basketball leagues. Contact your city parks and recreation department.

For serious development:

  • ProSkills Basketball (multiple DFW locations) — Individual skill training. $50-80 per session.
  • IMG Academy online training — Remote skills program. Access to professional-level drills.

The path to high school varsity: DFW high school basketball is extremely competitive. Schools like Richardson, Duncanville, IMG (for transfers), and Allen consistently produce Division I talent. Starting competitive basketball by age 10-12 is typical for players aiming for varsity.

Sources:

  • mavs.com/academy — official programs
  • DFW Elite and Texas Titans websites — AAU information
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas — youth programming
Community ReportAutomatedSource: Community ReportPublished: Apr 4, 2026, 12:00 PM

4 Comments

Mavs Academy camps are well-run. My daughter attended last summer and the coaching was legitimate. Not just babysitting with basketballs — actual skill development.

YMCA leagues are the best starting point for young kids. Low pressure, affordable, and teaches the basics. My son started there at age 6 and loved it.

DFW Elite is the real deal for competitive players. If your kid is serious about playing in college, this is the program to get into. The coaching and exposure are excellent.

City rec leagues are underrated. Plano runs a great program for $75 per season. Games on Saturdays, one practice per week. Perfect for kids who want to play without the travel basketball commitment.