When David Siteman Garland looked around the St. Louis youth basketball scene, he noticed something missing. There were Catholic and Christian teams and plenty of club leagues but not a single competitive Jewish program. Siteman Garland, an entrepreneur and longtime coach, decided to change that.
“I wanted to create the first competitive Jewish basketball program in St. Louis,” he said. “My plan was to start with second graders and grow from there.”
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Through Mirowitz and Maccabi connections, Siteman Garland teamed up with Joey Mufson, who runs the 15-and-under Maccabi team. Together they launched STL Maccabi Basketball, a nonprofit now drawing kids from across the area.
“With Joey’s involvement it made perfect sense to combine forces,” Siteman Garland said.
A shared vision
For Mufson, the partnership brought his basketball story full circle.
“I’ve loved the game since high school at Epstein Hebrew Academy and Block Yeshiva,” he said. “I proudly represented St. Louis in the JCC Maccabi Games for four summers.”
He later coached in Atlanta, San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale and Tucson and now leads Mirowitz’s middle school team.
“What motivates me is building consistency and culture in Jewish athletics, especially in day schools where programs often lack continuity,” Mufson said.
“We are proud to be Jewish and proud to represent the community on the hardwood,” Siteman Garland said. “This is a great opportunity for Jewish kids in St. Louis, and we plan on growing in both players and impact.”
The next evolution
The next evolution of STL Maccabi Basketball is already underway.
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“We’re starting with second grade boys this season, and it’s just the beginning,” Siteman Garland said. “The goal is to grow each year so Jewish kids of all ages have a place to play, learn and connect.”
Registration is still open for the Nov. 9 tryouts, and families are encouraged to sign up at STLMaccabiBasketball.com.
“We’ve had players register from Mirowitz, Torah Prep, Epstein and Ladue,” Siteman Garland said. “The most common question is, ‘How good does my child have to be?’”
“The tryout will be run by me and two college players,” he continued. “It won’t be high pressure, more like a free clinic.”
Mufson said momentum is building. “Our fall team grew from eight players in 2024 to two teams with 16 in 2025,” he said. “Families are responding to the mix of high-level basketball and community values.”
For the new 2nd grade team, that excitement is easy to see.
“I love that we play games on Sundays so we can have Shabbat on Friday,” said Coby Garland, a Mirowitz 2nd grader. “My dad taught me to dribble between my legs and behind my back.”
Reuben Kaar, also a 2nd grader at Mirowitz, said his favorite part is “playing with my friends and having all the same holidays off.”
“We learned how to win and still be good sports,” he said.
Life lessons on and off the court
The program also opens doors for kids who might otherwise be left out.
“About half our players come from Orthodox or Conservative families,” Mufson said. “Many can’t play elsewhere because games often fall on Shabbat. Our program ensures all kids are welcome, and parents don’t have to choose between their values and their child’s passion.”
He follows what he calls a European model, with more training than games.
“There are life lessons that go way beyond basketball,” Siteman Garland said. “Winning, losing, frustrations, sportsmanship, resilience, confidence, teamwork, representing the Jewish community.”
That mindset has already produced results. Mufson points to former player Sam Donald, now a Division I athlete at Bellarmine University in Louisville. Ky.
“Sam embodies the kind of athlete we want representing our program,” Mufson said. “Basketball was his gateway to a meaningful Jewish experience, but it’s the friendships and pride that endure.”
A growing community
“The old stereotype that Jewish people aren’t good athletes isn’t true,” Siteman Garland said. “We might be small in numbers and sometimes stature but mighty. At the end of the day, lifelong friendships will be made, and there will be lots of laughs and fun. After all, these are kids and this is basketball.”
STL Maccabi Basketball 2nd Grade Boys Tryouts
When: Sunday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m. (arrive by 1:30 p.m.)
Where: Location shared after registration
Registration deadline: Friday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
Cost: Free tryout and evaluation
Register: STLMaccabiBasketball.com
Contact: [email protected]
