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LAUNCHING WITH Georgia Stars 2031 Gold
8th Grade Jr EYBL Open
THE NEXT PLAY INITIATIVE
Sports is the connection. Opportunity is the mission. VTEC is using the power of youth sports to introduce student-athletes to AI, robotics, drones, esports, cybersecurity, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and advanced military careers.
PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
VTEC + GEORGIA STARS 2031 GOLD 8th Grade JR EYBL OPEN
VTEC is proud to begin The Next Play Initiative in partnership with the Georgia Stars, widely regarded as one of the premier youth basketball organizations in the United States. Georgia Stars 2031 Gold will be the first team to help launch this effort — creating an exceptional starting point to reach student-athletes who are serious about competing, improving, and pursuing opportunities at the next level.
GEORGIA STARS
2031 GOLD
WIN NOW. PREPARE FOR WHAT’S NEXT.
The Next Play Initiative will support student-athletes as they pursue athletic opportunities — making teams, improving performance, earning scholarships, and competing at higher levels. At the same time, VTEC will use the reach of youth sports to expose students and young adults to career pathways they may not otherwise know are available.
Through mentorship, technology demonstrations, leadership development, career exploration, campus visits, workshops, and direct access to VTEC programs, we are connecting student-athletes, families, coaches, schools, employers, military partners, and community leaders.
ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
Support for making teams, improving performance, earning scholarships, and competing at higher levels.
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS
Mentorship, workshops, campus visits, and connections with coaches, employers, military partners, community leaders, and VTEC programs that build real-world skills and prepare youth for long-term success.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SUPPORT
Guidance, resources, and support to help student-athletes manage pressure, stress, expectations, and emotional challenges—on and off the court.
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
Age-appropriate financial literacy training helps teenagers and young adults understand budgeting, saving, credit, banking, investing, and responsible money management from high school through college and beyond.
EXPANDING THE PLAYBOOK
Student-athletes participating in The Next Play Initiative will explore exciting opportunities that connect basketball, technology, leadership, creativity, and personal development—helping them expand their talents on and off the court.
NINE POWERFUL AVENUES CONNECTING SPORTS, TECHNOLOGY & OPPORTUNITY
These opportunities are not alternatives to basketball—they are additional tools, experiences, and connections that can strengthen each athlete’s future.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
Discover how AI, data analytics, and digital tools improve player development, analyze performance, identify strengths, study opponents, prevent injuries, and support coaching decisions in basketball and other sports.
ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION
Experience how robotics and automated systems are used in sports through rebounding machines, automated cameras, training equipment, field maintenance, performance testing, facility operations, and injury rehabilitation.
DRONES & AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS
Discover how drones can capture practices and games, provide overhead footage, analyze player movement, inspect fields and facilities, create sports media, support outdoor events, and improve safety in basketball, football, soccer, and other sports.
ESPORTS, GAMING & DIGITAL MEDIA
Explore competitive gaming, esports operations, streaming, game design, broadcasting, digital content creation, and event production—while developing teamwork, communication, strategy, and technology skills connected to the sports industry.
ADVANCED MILITARY OPPORTUNITIES
Explore how the discipline, teamwork, leadership, fitness, aviation, cybersecurity, engineering, drone operations, logistics, and advanced technology used by the military connect directly to the qualities developed through competitive sports.
CYBERSECURITY & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Learn how cybersecurity protects athlete information, team communications, online registrations, ticketing systems, digital broadcasts, social-media accounts, performance data, and the technology used by modern sports organizations.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ENERGY & SMART INFRASTRUCTURE
Learn how electric vehicles, charging stations, solar energy, battery storage, and smart-building technology can support team transportation, athletic facilities, tournaments, stadiums, and large sporting events.
SKILLED TRADES & FACILITIES TECHNOLOGY
Learn how electrical, HVAC, plumbing, construction, lighting, flooring, scoreboards, and smart-building systems help build, operate, and maintain gyms, courts, stadiums, training centers, and other athletic facilities.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & LEADERSHIP
Develop the skills to build a personal brand, understand financial literacy, manage sponsorships and NIL opportunities, organize camps and tournaments, market sports programs, lead teams, and create businesses within the sports industry.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TELLING ATHLETES TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. IT IS ABOUT GIVING THEM MORE POWER OVER THEIR FUTURE. WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THEIR ATHLETIC DREAMS WHILE INTRODUCING THEM TO THE REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES .
—David W. Gallemore
Founder and CEO, VTEC