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Gil Basketball Academy

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Salinas native makes the grade on and off the court

Stanford basketball player Josue Gil-Silva available as brand ambassador

Growing up in East Salinas, Josue Gil-Silva learned many lessons, but chief among them was to always “dream big.”

So the idea of a young Latino kid who loved basketball one day suiting up for the most prestigious university in the country did not seem so daunting.

“We have a video of him and his cousin Isa (Silva) in our backyard playing ball, wearing Stanford shorts,” said Jose Gil, Josue’s father and his coach at both Alisal High School and Salinas-based Gil Basketball Academy. “They would dream together about playing for the Cardinal.”

Last year that dream came true when Stanford coach Jarod Hasse elevated Josue to the roster following two years serving as team manager, joining his cousin in wearing the cardinal and white.

What is an athlete’s NIL?

While Isa has since transferred to Long Beach State, the two cousins are poised to take full advantage of their own name, image and likeness (NIL), and to build their personal brands while they are still in college.

This comes in the wake of new legislation that forced the NCAA (a multibillion dollar entertainment industry) to give up on amateurism in the college ranks.

Conceptually, NIL means that college athletes can now earn and accept money doing commercial endorsements, appearances and social media posts, writing books, hosting camps, giving lessons and performing various other commercial activities outside of their schools, all without running afoul of NCAA rules. Now, athletes can engage in commercial activity, sign contracts, pay taxes, make financial decisions whether to save or invest, and learn important lessons about how the business world really works.

A platform for social justice

NIL is also a platform for social justice initiatives, something not lost on the Gil-Silva family during Hispanic Heritage Month. The observance takes place every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.

A 6-foot-1 guard majoring in mechanical engineering at Stanford, Gil-Silva was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll for 2023. At Alisal he earned co-MVP honors in the Monterey Gabilan League as a senior, scoring 1,000 points for the school. Previous to that he played for under-15 and under-16 youth Mexican National Teams for Gil Basketball Academy, founded by his father and mother Eva Silva back in 2010.

A 6-foot-4 point guard who also played for GBA, Isa Silva was a consensus Top 100 recruit out of Jesuit High School in Sacramento (ranked as high as No. 53 by ESPN, and recruited by Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas and USC before choosing Stanford). Exceeding in the classroom as well, Silva is an Academic All-District selection, recognizing student-athletes who maintain a 3.50 GPA or higher while also playing a major role on their collegiate teams.

A prideful family background

 What brings additional pride is the fact that both players’ family backgrounds include relatives who worked as migrant farmworkers.

Born in East Los Angeles and raised in East Salinas as the son of migrant parents, Jose Gil himself overcame the odds and earned his family’s first-ever college degree. Isa Silva’s grandfather Rafael came to the U.S. in 1952 through The Bracero Program.

Isa’s father Francisco Silva worked summers in the fields, went to Alisal High and eventually became Jose Gil’s college roommate. He’s now an attorney.

 Because the academy has placed a focus beyond the lines of the court, it taught the two cousins certain principles that include service to others and education. Given that background, their charisma, their commitment to education and their athletic achievements, the two cousins make perfect NIL candidates.

Those who seek a healthy lifestyles ambassador, a face for a business or Latino brand or an endorsement for any product should reach out to Marci Bracco at BuzzPR at (831) 747-7455.

Fall League 2023



The Elks Lodge in collaboration with GBA , is hosting the 2023 Elks Hoop Shoot on October 16, 2023 at 5pm in the small gym at Alisal High School. The free throw shooting contest, funded by the Elks National Foundation, is a contest for ALL children ages 8 to 13, boys and girls divisions. Age group is determined by contestant's age as of April 1, 2024. We are inviting our academy kids and the entire community to show up on 10-16-23 to register and participate for FREE. For more information, contact the director of the Elks Hoop Shoot event, Lawrence at 831-776-2928. Go GBA!

Elk Hoops Shot 2023 Flyer


GBA Gala 2024 Flyer


GBA & Monterey Car Week Flyer


GBA Fall League Practice Dates


GBA turns 14 flyer


2023 Academy Nights

We are excited to start our academy nights next Monday, 3-13-23. Here are the breakdowns of the two sessions we offer;

Ages 4-12 from 6:30-7:45pm

Ages 13-17 from 7:45-9pm

If you have a remaining balance, have NOT received your academy uniform, or know of someone else that would like to register but hasn’t, please have them arrive early next Monday. Our volunteers will be ready to start answering questions, taking payments, handing out uniforms etc at 5:30pm. If you have registered or are interested in knowing more about our GBA Select AAU Traveling teams (flyer attached), please arrive and I will be there to answer questions. 

We are having our Annual GBA Gala Event on 4-15-23. We invite you all to attend (18+ of age). We are going to need help from our academy parents to help us sell tickets to the event, please let me know if we could count on you to help us sell so that we can have some ready for you to take home with you Monday night. All help is greatly appreciated, as is your attendance to the fundraiser. Going to be a fun evening of dancing and honoring some amazing people in our community. 

We also have a raffle of NHL SJ Sharks hockey tickets happening next week. Tickets re only $10. You can purchase yours at the academy Monday or help us by selling tickets as well, let me know how many you need. 

See you all next week. Go GBA!

GBA 2023 registration flyer


GBA Fundraiser - Bingo Banner

GBA Fundraiser - Bingo Rewards Card Banner

SALINAS, Calif., — Back in 1989, Alisal High School basketball player Jose Gil and his farmworker parents volunteered at a Salinas bingo hall to help him represent the U.S. at a tournament in New Zealand.
Fast forward 33 years and Gil is back at it again, raising funds through bingo in support of his nonprofit Gil Basketball Academy in East Salinas.
Beginning Oct. 22, GBA members and supporters will host three sessions a week at Park Place Bingo Hall (1045 S. Main St., Salinas), which has been helping charitable organizations since it opened in 1985. In fact, 100 percent of the profits benefit participating groups and organizations.
“It’s a hidden gem for those involved and those who play,” said Gil, who also serves as Alisal’s boys basketball coach and athletic director. “It’s just crazy that back in the day we were selling pull tabs to players with (former AHS coach and current GBA board member) Jim Rear leading the way. From being a kid who benefited to now being the director, that’s pretty cool.”
Gil is inviting all GBA supporters and the community at large to help support these bingo nights, held Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, beginning Oct. 22. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with games beginning at 6 p.m.
“You can play on an electronic tablet or do it the old-school way with a card and a stamp,” Gil said. “There’s a restaurant, with food delivered to your table. Since I am a sports guy we will have multiple TVs playing football and basketball games during our sessions.”
Community involvement and volunteerism have always been the backbone of GBA, founded 13 years ago by Gil and his wife Eva Silva.
“It’s at the center of everything,” Gil said. “We’re all volunteer based. All of the money goes to cover fees for travel basketball season, to pay for facilities, transportation and everything else to help keep these kids involved with basketball and off the streets.”
GBA will be unveiling special offers for bingo fans through text alerts, including Secret Word prizes, free birthday play, Tuesday Password and more.
“We give out over $25,000 every night,” said Park Place Bingo owner Tony Phelps, whose father started the business 37 years ago. “It’s a lot of fun for everyone. Buy-ins start at $50, and all the profits on those days go to GBA.”
Gil invites the community to attend the bingo nights ,and promises a return on every investment.
“It’s going to be fun and engaging, and for a good cause so It’s a win-win-win trifecta,” he said.



Sponsorship Opportunity to sponsor our podcast recordings for 2022-2023. Our Podcast: GANAS 'Leading from the Heart" is becoming a "HOT" podcast with high ratings, not only in CA but Internationally. Exciting to see where we will go leading into the future. But we would love for your business to be part of it. Once you commit to a sponsorship, we will need a short write up so that we can pre-record an Ad for you and drop it on all of our podcast recordings coming up. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Go GBA!


GBA Basketball All Star Game

13th Annual North vs South Basketball Classic

“The Best of the Best” from the Central Coast counties: Monterey – Santa Cruz – San Benito

May 13th 2022

Alisal Highschool, Cork Haddan Gymnasium

777 Williams Rd. Salinas CA, 93905

4:00pm: 8th Girls All Star Game (East vs West) SUHSD
5:00pm: 8th Boys All Star Game (East vs West) SUHSD
6:00pm: HS Senior Girls All Star Game (South vs North)
7:30pm: HS Senior Boys All Star Game (South vs North)

GBA standout guard Nayeli Gil-Silva invited to join the Girls Under Armour Association National 15U sponsored Circuit basketball team!

Nayeli will compete this spring and summer against the top players in the country to pursue her dream of playing collegiate ball. Under Armour provides an elite league-style travel team circuit that allows players to showcase skills and talents on route to their dreams of playing in college. Congratulations to Nayeli!

Sponsors

Special Thank You To Our Annual Event Partner The Salinas PAL Center. We appreciate you.

Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
Logo of The Buzz PR
Luis Larrauri - Web Developer

World Tours

GBA believes in empowering youth by helping them develop a world view.

2024 World Tour to Japan

GBA 2024 World Tour Flyer to Japan

2022 World Tour to Spain and France

GBA 2022 World Tour Flyer to Spain and France

Mexico

This past summer we took 67 youth on an educational trip to Mexico. They learned and experienced firsthand the traditions, …

Italy

GBA is more than just a basketball academy, it is an organization that works on character building, setting goals, and …

Dominican Republic

Our GBA parents, coaches and kids are hard at work trying to raise funds to pay for the kids tour to the Dominican Republic …

All World Tours

Eva Silva coaching our young 4-5 year olds