Five Towns Legends filling an appetite for sports

Seeing a need for her two children and others, Inwood resident Krystal Mackey undertook the mission of creating a free youth basketball clinic called the Five Towns Legends at the beginning of February, which is opened to girls and boys of all ages to provide kids in Inwood and surrounding areas an opportunity to become involved in sports.

Mackey, a sports enthusiast, recalled growing up in Inwood (she also lived in Queens) and being in sports clinics as a child with her siblings: “We used everything that we learned from the [Inwood] Buccaneers [clinic] in school [sports], but these kids don’t have that – that’s what they’re lacking.” Her children son Mykel Gajadhar, 13, and daughter Jordan Gajadhar, 10.

The lack of youth sports clinics provided in the area has shown to be a disadvantage to children in the Lawrence School District, said former Lawrence Middle School football coach Ilyassha Shivers.

“We had a hard-working group of young men,” he wrote in an email, about the LMS football team. “For the majority, this was their first time playing football. It showed since we did not win any games. It was crystal clear that our children were at a disadvantage being that they never participate in youth sports.”

Mackey recruited Five Towns Legends members through social media and word of mouth. In three weeks, the program grew from three to nearly 25 eager athletes, ranging from ages eight to 13, who meet at the Number Two School, also in Inwood, to learn basketball fundamentals. Four parents, including Mackey, have gotten involved to coach, and the quickly growing program needs more coaches.

The clinic has been fun for kids, especially after the past nearly two years of social distancing and staying indoors due to Covid. “They love it,” coach Michael Gajadhar, parent of two LMS athletes in the program, said. “The last three years, I’ve seen a lot of these kids walking in the streets, hanging out doing stuff they were not supposed to do, so now, [the Five Towns Legends] it’s like home for them. She [Mackey] started it out brand new and she made a great name for this organization.”

Inwood resident Rosalyn Lawrence has been to every practice with her son, David, 8. Lawrence taught her son how to shoot a basketball, but since David started in the clinic, which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., he has improved significantly and gained confidence. “I was really amazed,” Lawrence said, adding that her son has mentioned wanting to be a professional basketball player in the future. “I just want him to know that he can do whatever he puts his mind to.”

Lawrence Middle School student Melvin Beltran, 12, has been enjoying the Five Towns Legends and also sees himself as a professional athlete in his future:

“I don’t know what else I’m going to do if I don’t get in for sports,” he said. “I can’t sit still,” he added, noting that the clinic is a good thing to get involved in “because it’s a lot of movement. I would rather this than stay in the house.”

Mackey said the Number Two School is Five Towns Legends temporary home as she plans to continue the program and expand to other activities such as cheerleading and football as the seasons change. Should the sports program grow large enough it will eventually be organized into teams and there could be a fee for participation.

For more information about the clinic or to join as a member or coach, contact Mackey at fivetownslegends@yahoo.com or (516)787-6552. On Instagram direct messages @5townslegends.