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Earl Monroe Basketball School to open new campus in 2026

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez06/02/25lawandfern
Earl Monroe Basketball School 02
Notable attendees of the groundbreaking of the new Earl Monroe Basketball School campus include NBA commissioner Adam Silver, New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, former Knick Julius Randle, and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe. (Photo credit: earlmonroeschool.org)

The construction of the Earl Monroe Basketball School is halfway done, according to the officials involved in the project. If all goes well, the charter tuition-free high school will open in 2026.

According to a press release, the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School “is a purpose-built, specialized high school with an academic curriculum entirely designed around basketball and the many career paths associated with the global game.” The founders of this one-of-a-kind school will prepare their students to build careers in broadcast media, sports psychology, law, nutrition, facilities management, and venture capital business, among others.

Dan Klores founded the New Renaissance Basketball Association in 2013. Their goal was to help disadvantaged students succeed with college admissions and scholarships. Eight years later, Klores and NBA legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe opened a school at its Parkview Avenue location.

However, plans for a new school building started in 2019. Last year, the school broke ground at 647 Elton Ave. near the cross section of Third Avenue and East 152nd Street. Per the school’s official website, the traditional field house design of the early 1900s inspired the building’s design.

The Earl Monroe Basketball School also features an arched entrance and brick facade designs of the 1920s and 30s. Its builders will import windows manufactured in Germany and a structural system made by a Canada-based company. Likewise, their brick bracing manufacturer has offices in the United Kingdom and Poland.

In addition to Klores and Monroe, the likes of former New York Knick John Wallace and Bronx borough president Vanessa Gibson are overseeing the project. Meanwhile, ESKW/Architects and IMC Architecture oversee the campus’s design.

Once completed, this 69,000-square-foot building at South Bronx will have an 8,000-square-foot-gymnasium, a library, and a media production studio. The Earl Monroe Basketball School will also have 24 regular classrooms, two specialty science classrooms, and an art studio. Students can also use the weight room, the dance room, and the physical therapy training room in the new campus.