West Orange Boys Basketball Team Plays During Nets Game [VIDEO]

Making the sixth grade traveling basketball team — cool.

Finishing the Season 13-1 and going to the playoffs — awesome.

Playing during half-time of a Nets game — priceless.

As basketball players at 11 and 12 years old, you are accustomed to feeling the excitement of your parents when you're playing a game. The embarrassing cheers and screams coming from your mom and dad are something you realize you just have to get used to.

But one night last week changed everything for 11 West Orange boys.

The West Orange Recreation Department sixth grade Boys Travel Basketball Team led by head coach Royce Russell and assistant coach Joe Cubero, got a whole new level of crowds and cheers last week. The team played during half-time of the Nets vs. Timberwolves basketball game at The Prudential Center in Newark.

The crowds, cheers and vibe were on such a new level compared to the Roosevelt gym everyone was in awe.

"It felt really good hearing thousand of people cheer for our team," said student Jelani Jackson.

As the boys took the court during half-time, their stomachs were in knots and their parents were on the edge of their seats as another chapter in their history books was about to be written.

Coaches Russell and Cubero were on the sidelines screaming out plays while dad Bob Meaux was acting as referee. Not a referee to make calls, but to run with the boys and keep them going for six minutes.

The boys played against each other and were really moving the ball. The team's resident photographer and dad Erik Akerblom followed the boys throughout the night as though they were celebrities. He took photos and videos for everyone to treasure for a lifetime.

The team consists of the following players: #1 Jelanie Jackson, #4 Channing Russell, #10 Yonatan Arieh, #11 Trey Meaux, #12 Zachary Dees, #13 Joe Cubero II, #14 Shayne Simon, #15 Justin Bouyer, #20 EJ Akerblom, #23 Aaron Haughton, and #24 Syed Athar. A second #13, Cody Simon, substituted for Russell during the game.

When a basket was made, the boys got a thrill as their name resonanted throughout the stadium by the announcer: two points from #20 EJ Akekrblom and #14 Shayne Simon; 4 points from #12 Zachary Dees and #1 Jelanie Jackson.

But who really was more excited: the kids or the parents?

"Seeing the excitement on the kids faces was priceless," said father Kris Jackson. "I think I was a little more excited than Jelani was. It was an amazing experience for all of us."

The game's referee and one of the student's parent, Bob Meaux, hatched the idea after attending a recent Nets game. As a real estate agent, he was able to talk with one of his clients who works with the Nets to make it happen.

The kids have been working hard throughout the season. After making the team, Coach Russell taught them various plays with code names like West Orange 2 and Isolation Trey, along with the ability to play as one. This has led the team to a 13-1 record going into the playoffs next week. It also has given the boys an opportunity to meet others outside of their school. The team has West Orange players from Thomas Edison Central Six, Our Lady of the Lake, Golda Och Academy and Montclair Kimberly Academy.

But, back to the game at The Rock.

"The best part of the night was playing on an NBA court," said #11 Trey Meaux. "I felt a little nervous in the beginning to actually walk on the court." 

Since #15 Justin Bouyer future endeavors includes being a starting point guard for the New Jersey Nets this may not be the last time you see one of them on the Nets court.

For this night, though, as the six minutes on the court ended, the boys walked off happy and proud; especially after receiving high-fives and congratulations from Nets' fans for the rest of the night.

The night left a lot of memories for the boys to choose from: stepping onto the Nets court with thousands watching, having cheerleaders high five them in the tunnel, being seen on the big screen, or shooting foul shots with family at the end of the game. 

It could have been one or all of the above.

Either way, the night was priceless.