At first glance from the corner of Rivington and Columbia, the Masaryk Community Gym looks like its hidden behind a giant white brick wall. Thats kind of because it is. Home to the collaborative project of Aim Leon Dore and New Balance, the building juts out onto the sidewalk as a beacon for the Lower East Sides hoops community. The colorless bricks that face the pavement are illuminated by a painted mural that depicts the action taking place on the second floor.
After buzzing in at the front door and ascending the carpeted staircase, youll find one of the most intimate hardwood settings in New York City. Warm wooden hues and distinct hits of evergreen along the wall padding illuminate the space that, in late March, was engulfed by the sounds of New Balance TWO WXY v5s striking the court. Klutch Athletics by New Balance had completely taken over the space, stamped by the appearance of their star-studded athlete roster.
The trio of five stars stood out immediately at the youth clinic, and not just because they were decked out in either lime or yellow woven Klutch Athletics gear and towering over the kids they were swinging the rock to during drills. Aaliyah Crump, Isiah Harwell and Caleb Wilson represent more than a collection of elite high school-level talent; theyre the embodiment of the ethos that the sportswear brand has envisioned for the future.
At the highest level, we want to inspire and enable those that have an athlete mindset to be their best selves. Klutch is more than a brand, its about coming together for positive change, says Pat Cassidy, President at Klutch Athletics by New Balance. We want everyone in the communities we touch to feel empowered to achieve whatever goals they set out for themselves. There are a number of ways we can do that, from product to community engagement to providing tools to succeed, and we have no shortage of ideas of whats to come from usstay tuned.
Community was at the center of that Friday afternoon with the soon-to-be incoming freshmen at the forefront. Aaliyah (heading to Texas), Isiah (playing at Houston) and Caleb (going to North Carolina) descended on the gym with the mindset of giving back. With the youngins at one basket and the older kids shooting at the other, the three athletes split their time between the two halves, coaching the kids up during drills before sharing their insights and advice during a panel discussion. And with as much as these three have already accomplishedmost recently being named McDonalds All-Americansthere were mad amounts of wisdom to take in.
Aaliyah made history in December 2023 when she became the first female athlete and high school player to join Klutch Athletics by New Balance. The No. 5 player in the class of 2025, (according to ESPN) was quickly joined by Caleb (No. 7) and Isiah (No. 13), who announced their signings later that summer. And for the past year, all three have been cooking at their high schools while setting the foundation for the brands mission to uplift and empower athletes across gender and sport. And when theyre not dropping buckets on the opposing team, theyre getting their own games right in the brands elevated performance pieces, a number of which were on display throughout the gym that Friday.
A sea of black and white Klutch Athletics t-shirts and gray tricot shorts filled the confines of the court while Aaliyah, Caleb and Isiah sported a preview of the Spring 25 collection. With an assortment of pieces arriving at retail on April 10, we sat down with Klutch Athletics athlete roster to learn more about their journey with the brand, how theyre giving back and the future of their partnerships.
SLAM: Its been a minute since each of you signed with the brand. How would you sum up your experience as a Klutch athlete thus far?
Aaliyah Crump: Basketball is really important to me, but theyve allowed me to kind of venture off into different parts of it. And I think they just really care about me as a person and care about all the things that I have going for me. So, I just think its been really cool to be a part of Klutch. And obviously this is one of the first NIL things that I did. I think theyve just been supportive through it all, supportive through community give back and whatever things that Im trying to do to help my community and give back to people that care for me.
Isiah Harwell: Its amazing. I get to talk to everybody. Theyre all just friendly, a friendly vibe. Its been great. Theyve helped me, on and off the court. They give me motivation and advice, because I got hurt before, to get through stuff, surgery. They talked me through it and helped me get stuff done.
Caleb Wilson: My experience has been great with Klutch. Weve been partners for a long time. Theyve asked to help me in different ways, and theyve also helped my team. That was something that was really good for me, being able to give some Klutch Athletics by New Balance gear to my basketball team in my high school, and they were really appreciative of it. Also, when I went down to Boston for Hoop Hall, I was also able to give some gear to my team then. Theyve definitely been supportive, and I appreciate them very much for this new partnership that we have.
SLAM: Youre all rocking pieces from the new Klutch Athletics by New Balance collection. From fit to materials and overall feel, what has been your favorite aspect of training in the brands performance essentials?
AC: I think its really versatile, the colors that they choose. I think theyre colors that us athletes and just kids these days love to wear. I love that I can wear them on the court, wear them off the court. Like I said, its a versatile product that I can really wear wherever and whenever. So Im loving it.
IH: I aint going to lie, I like it a lot. All the shoes feel good, clothes fit good, they feel good, too. Everythings breathable, its actually nice to hoop in it.
CW: Im a guy that has always liked color, so coming up with more diverse colors, especially from New Balance, is really cool. But its really comfortable, lightweight, you can do a lot of stuff in it. You can wear it as a style. You can wear it to work out in. Its really versatile. Also, it looks good. Its layered really good with the colors. Thats all that matters.
SLAM: Aaliyah, you had the opportunity to surprise your Montverde squad with some Klutch Athletics by New Balance gear mid-season. What did that moment tell you about the brands commitment to spotlighting the next generation?
AC: They really care about the family feel. And I just think thats really important. Like, us athletes, we want to give back to people that care for us the most and support us the most. And I think it means a lot that theyre willing to support me in that and give me the tools and gear and stuff to help out those people.
SLAM: Isiah, when you look toward the future of this partnership, what are some ways that youre hoping to give back and put your hometown of Pocatello, ID, on the map?
IH: Mostly building up myself so I can be in a position to help other people. Being able to give back is a really good blessing. It makes you feel good inside when you get to help other people. You wish you had somebody helping you as you did growing up.
SLAM: Caleb, last summer you got to tour the New Balance headquarters after you signed. What was one thing that you were surprised to learn about the brand?
CW: Just how much they have going on. Coming to New Balance, were up and coming on the basketball side. But just going to that track and seeing how big they are in the track and field marketsoccer, with the football cleats, tennis, all huge sports. And just showing that theyre all intertwined between all these sports and have a relationship with all the top athletes throughout these sports.
Photos via Klutch Athletics.
