LIGHTNING BASKETBALL INC

What LIGHTNING BASKETBALL INC does

Lightning Basketball Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth basketball organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Garden City, New York. It operates one of the nation's largest AAU basketball programs, with more than 250 competitive teams serving boys and girls from kindergarten through high school across Long Island (70% of players) and the five boroughs of New York City (30%). The program is structured as a multi-tier progression — Little Lightning (grades K-2), Lightning Developmental (grades 1-3), Lightning Academy training, AAU Teams, Tournaments, and Training & Clinics — designed to develop athletes from foundational skills through college-level play, with more than 600 alumni reported to have gone on to play college basketball.

The organization is led by CEO James P. Fox, a former Division 1 college coach (Davidson College, where he recruited Stephen Curry; Appalachian State), with founder James M. Fox serving in a Legacy and Vision role and as Governor and District Boys Basketball Chair of the New York Metropolitan AAU. Operations are supported by a coaching staff that includes former college coaches and championship-winning high school coaches (notably Girls Director Jon Lawniczak) and a dedicated Recruiting Coordinator. Primary training is conducted at Northwell Island Garden in West Hempstead, NY, a facility affiliated with the separately incorporated Monroe Basketball (dba Island Garden Basketball) entity that hosts year-round leagues, tournaments, camps, and clinics.

Revenue is generated through program registration fees, tournament entry fees, training and clinic fees, and tax-deductible donations and corporate sponsorships, with registrations processed through the third-party LeagueApps platform. The organization does not disclose financials, has no external investors, and operates as a community-based non-profit with no proprietary technology stack or AI capabilities disclosed. Marketing and member communications are conducted through the company website, an email distribution list of approximately 20,000 subscribers, and Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook channels.

Name

LIGHTNING BASKETBALL INC

Legal name

Lightning Basketball Inc

Website

https://lightningbasketball.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lightning Basketball Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth basketball organization founded in 1992, operating 250+ AAU teams across Long Island and NYC for players in grades K-12, with 600+ alumni placed at the college level.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Youth basketball programs
• AAU basketball teams
• Basketball training clinics
• Competitive basketball tournaments
• College recruiting basketball

Headquarters

HQ city

Garden City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Fees for youth basketball programs including Little Lightning, Lightning Developmental, Lightning Academy, and team participation. Registration conducted through LeagueApps platform.
2. Tournament Fees: Revenue from hosting AAU basketball tournaments through their tournament platform.
3. Training and Clinic Fees: Fees for training sessions, boot camps, and individual/semi-private instruction.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: Charitable donations as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, including business sponsorship opportunities with visibility on website, eblasts, and fundraising materials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lightning Basketball Inc operates one of the nation's largest AAU youth basketball organizations, offering a tiered program portfolio that includes Little Lightning (grades K-2 entry-level), Lightning Developmental (grades 1-3), Lightning Academy (small group, semi-private and individual training), competitive AAU teams (250+), AAU tournaments, and ongoing training & clinics. Programs are delivered primarily at the Northwell Island Garden facility on Long Island and are designed to develop players from beginner through college-level readiness.

Product overview

Lightning Basketball Inc is a non-profit youth basketball organization offering a comprehensive multi-tiered program portfolio for young athletes. The organization operates as a unified platform comprising developmental programs (Little Lightning for grades K-2, Lightning Developmental for grades 1-3), competitive AAU teams numbering over 250, the Lightning Academy for skill training, tournaments, and training & clinics. The programs progress from foundational youth instruction through competitive team play, all designed to develop athletes toward college-level basketball success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Little Lightning Entry-level basketball program for boys and girls in grades K-2 and beginners, providing basic skills instruction on lowered baskets in a fun and safe environment.
• Lightning Developmental Developmental basketball program for grades 1-3 that bridges basic skills training with game situations on 8-foot baskets with coaches, progressing players toward the competitive Lightning program.
• Lightning Academy Training academy offering small group training sessions, semi-private and individual instruction for players of all ages and skill levels, with programs running in six-week cycles at the Northwell Island Garden facility.
• AAU Tournaments AAU basketball tournaments providing competitive play opportunities for Lightning teams across various age groups and skill levels.
• Competitive AAU Teams Competitive AAU basketball teams organized by age and gender, with over 250 teams hosting boys and girls programs across the tri-state area.
• Training & Clinics Ongoing skill development training and basketball clinics led by experienced coaches including former college and professional players.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ alumni have gone on to play college basketball

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AAU (Amateur Athletic Union)coreOthersLightning Basketball is a proud member of the AAU and abides by its rules and regulations. The organization serves as Governor and District Boys Basketball Chair of the New York Metropolitan AAU. National AAU registration exceeds 800,000 athletes and coaches.
• Northwell Island GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Lightning Academy training sessions take place at the Northwell Island Garden facility located at 45 Cherry Valley Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552. This is the primary training venue for the organization.
• Island Garden Basketball (dba Monroe Basketball)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames M. Fox is one of the founders and current CEO of Monroe Basketball (dba Island Garden Basketball), incorporated in October 1998. Island Garden Basketball hosts team leagues, tournaments, camps, and clinics on a year-round basis with estimated annual attendance near 300,000 people.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• City Rocks (New York Elite): Northeast AAU basketball program operating elite teams and tournaments with a strong college placement pipeline. Directly comparable in scale, geographic reach, and the college-recruitment selling point.
• New Heights Basketball: NYC youth basketball organization running competitive AAU teams, clinics, and tournaments with a stated college-readiness mission. Overlaps directly with Lightning on customer base, programming mix, and Long Island/NYC player pool.
• Riverside Hawks: Long-running NYC-based AAU basketball program with a comparable youth-development model and a strong track record of college placements. Directly competes with Lightning for elite players in the tri-state area.
• Bronx Basketball: Community-rooted AAU and youth basketball program in the Bronx serving a similar demographics-and-development mission. Competes for NYC-borough players in Lightning's 30% NYC catchment.

Emerging players

• PSAL / CHSAA / Local NYC School Basketball: Public-school athletic leagues that provide the high-school basketball pipeline Lightning recruits from. Not a direct competitor, but a structural feeder whose rules, calendars, and coaching influence Lightning's program design.
• Garner Road (GRB Basketball): National AAU basketball program operating elite teams and showcases with comparable College recruiting emphasis. Useful comparand for national brand-building benchmarks even though geographically distant.
• Long Island Lutheran (LuHi) Basketball Program: Long Island high-school basketball powerhouse with multiple NY State Championships and college pipelines. Adjacent rather than directly competitive; Lightning's Girls Director Jon Lawniczak previously coached there, and the schools feed Lightning's player pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Team Rio National (Wasatch / NY2LA): Multi-region AAU circuit and event operator that aggregates competitive programs across the Northeast, hosting tournaments that compete with Lightning's tournament business for team entries and visibility.
• Nike EYBL (Made Hoops / Nike circuit): Sneaker-sponsored elite AAU basketball circuit offering national exposure and shoe-deal pathways. Competes for elite-tier players and represents the structural ceiling on Lightning's elite player funnel.

Others

• Island Garden Basketball (Monroe Basketball): Affiliated facility operator (separate entity, founded by James M. Fox) that hosts the year-round leagues, tournaments, and clinics where Lightning trains. Functionally an enabling partner rather than a competitor, but key to Lightning's facility access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LiLightningBB
• Facebookfacebook.com/LightningAAU
• Instagraminstagram.com/_lightningbasketball
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lightning-basketball-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LIGHTNING BASKETBALL INC