Every Tuesday at lunch, Renaissance College Hong Kong comes alive. It is filled with the sound of bouncing basketballs, cheering classmates and the sharp blast of a referee’s whistle.
It is more than a sport for the pupils behind the Lunchtime Basketball League (LBL). It is one of the school’s biggest student-led initiatives.
The end of the interschool basketball season and an injury inspired LBL founder Long Auyeung, 17, to start the league.
“We really missed playing basketball,” he said.
In September 2023, Long created a league modelled after the American NBA. Instead of casual games, he imagined a full season. He envisioned drafted teams and a championship game. The project ran for less than a year and was paused due to schoolwork.
Then, in January, Long recruited help from his Year 12 classmates, Marco So and Will Law, to revive the league.
Marco is the league’s commissioner, responsible for managing its day-to-day operations. He noted how basketball could bring people together.
“In our school, basketball is a really big sport,” the 17-year-old said. “It’s a large platform where students are able to connect.”
Bringing the NBA to school
At the start of the season, six student coaches draft players into teams. Every Tuesday during lunch, the teams compete to move up in the standings. The season ends with a championship game.
To make the experience more authentic, the organisers hosted an NBA-inspired draft. They dressed in suits as they selected players.
In addition to players and coaches, the league recruited student commentators, graphic designers and social media managers.
In May, they hosted an All-Star Game. The midseason event brought together the league’s best players. They wanted to make it like an NBA game. They invited one of the school’s vice principals, Ryan Copley, to DJ. They also asked the school dance team to perform.
“It was a taste of an NBA arena. Every time someone made a shot, the whole crowd was cheering,” Long said.
Built by students, powered by passion
Turning the idea into an official school club meant dealing with paperwork and communicating with teachers.
“At the start, I didn’t know I had to do any of that,” Long admitted with a laugh. “I actually got in trouble for not doing everything correctly.”
Marco said the league’s biggest advantage is that students are trusted to shape the teams themselves.
But they still sought advice from teachers. One of the school’s physical and health education teachers, Rebecca Thompson, helped them turn their ideas into reality.
“When they came to me with this idea, it was very raw, really exploring their love of basketball,” Thompson said.
She noted that the experience has taught the organisers many valuable skills. “They’ve had to learn how to plan, think about health and safety, coordinate with teachers, organise filming teams and build a media team,” she said.
More than just a game
The league started with around 10 members. It has grown to about 30 players from Years Nine to 12.
Thompson said one of the league’s strengths is its ability to unite students across grade levels.
“[It] is really gaining traction with the younger students ... which I think is really cool.”
One of the biggest rewards for the student leaders has been seeing the crowds grow.
“As the season progressed, Long and I were pleasantly surprised by how many people were showing up and cheering,” Marco said.
In Hong Kong, youth sports are often led by schools or official organisations. The Lunchtime Basketball League shows what can happen when students are encouraged to dribble, pass and call the shots.
Charlotte Kwan
