LeBron James backs a new elite league for top U18 basketball prospects

LeBron James is among the NBA names helping launch a new league aimed at bringing the United States’ leading under-18 boys basketball prospects into one competition. According to the announcement, James and Kevin Durant are early investors, joined by their respective business partners, Maverick Carter and Rich Kleiman. The Futures Basketball League is scheduled to begin next spring. Its first season is expected to include 120 players from high school classes graduating between 2028 and 2031, divided into 12 regional teams. The teams are set to compete on weekends from April through August, with the season ending in a national championship event. Former first overall NBA draft picks Derrick Rose and Paolo Banchero are also involved as team owners. Banchero, who plays for the Orlando Magic, said the project could make a meaningful difference for young players and described bringing top prospects together to compete and develop as exciting. Those involved say the league will offer coaching, player development and education, as well as Name, Image and Likeness payments. Futures chairman and co-founder Jason Stein said the current spring and summer basketball scene is spread across more than 200 teams and seven leagues. He argued that promising players do not receive consistent professional coaching or fair value for their NIL rights under the existing setup. The league’s stated aim is to create a central competition and invest in players both on and off the court. The schedule is being planned around high school basketball, NCAA live periods, the NBPA Top 100 Camp and USA Basketball commitments. The league says it has already signed some prospects to NIL agreements and plans to reveal the first names in the coming weeks. Games are expected to take place over 10 weekends in major US markets.