Celebrating 54 Years of the Boston Shootout
The Boston Shootout, founded in 1972, has grown from a modest all‑star showcase into one of the most respected grassroots basketball tournaments in New England.
Over the decades the event has launched the careers of future NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Grant Hill and Marcus Camby, who all honed their skills on its hardwood.
This weekend the 54th edition of the tournament is being held at Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, drawing elite 15‑under, 16‑under and 17‑under teams from across the Northeast.
The Boston Amateur Basketball Club (BABC), which has overseen the Shootout since 1999, fields a talented 16‑under squad that opened its campaign with a 115‑64 victory over Connecticut HoopWave 18U, a performance led by sophomore guard Malachi Odugbela, who scored a team‑high 24 points.
Leo Papile, the founder and director of BABC, reflected on the team’s chemistry, calling the group “a great group to coach and watch” as they look to build on a 23‑4 record this season.
The competition also serves as a tribute to community leaders like Roscoe Baker, whose contributions helped establish the event, and it continues to honor the memory of those who shaped its early years.
Beyond the court, the Shootout underscores the role of grassroots programs in nurturing talent and fostering community ties, a mission that BABC remains committed to as it prepares for another generation of prospects.