HVN Academy is a youth AAU basketball program serving the Greater New Haven community. For our student athletes, skill development goes far beyond the court — we pair elite basketball training with the business, financial, and life literacy skills young people need to win off the court too.
Our standard is simple and non-negotiable: No Books, No Ball. Academics come first. Every Killer Bee is a student before they're an athlete.
Three connected programs, one mission: developing complete student athletes.
Our competitive AAU basketball academy. Skill development, team play, and tournament competition across New England for youth athletes — with classroom accountability built into every season.
Operating in Connecticut since 2007, providing business, financial, and life literacy skills to all of our participants alongside athletic training.
The Western New England arm of a storied basketball platform established in 1977, offering New England youth a proven pathway in academics and athletics.
Every HVN kid trains their money like they train their game. Our financial-literacy programs run as a one-hour session per day inside our camps and clinics — and we bring the same programs to other camps, clinics, schools, and youth-facing organizations across New England and beyond.
The taster. One powerful hour: earning, needs vs. wants, the Spend–Save–Share plan, and a first budget — with measured before-and-after growth.
Adds the Savings Playbook: goals, the emergency stash, the doubling penny, and how banks really work.
Adds Borrowing & Credit: interest explained through sneakers, credit scores as a stat sheet, and the minimum-payment trap.
The full season: investing and compounding, side hustles, NIL-era money mindset, and a capstone Money Game Plan every camper signs.
powered by FINTRO AI PRO · a FINTRO™ financial-literacy platform
Both of our coaches have passed the official AAU background screening process.
Over $2.5 million in aggregate insurance coverage protecting our athletes and events.
HVN Academy is registered with the State of Connecticut as a nonstock (nonprofit) corporation.
AAU background-checked. 17 years of experience developing youth athletes on and off the court.
AAU background-checked. Committed to academics-first athlete development.
The Town of Hamden dedicated a community basketball court in loving memory of Coach Wayne Tolson Sr., honoring decades of service to young people. His example — that a coach's real job is building better lives, not just better players — is the foundation everything at HVN Academy stands on.
Every Killer Bee who steps onto that court carries his legacy forward.
HVN Academy is proud to be supported by these community partners.
Your sponsorship covers a full season for one student athlete — uniforms, tournament fees, gym time, insurance, and the academic support programming that makes HVN Academy different. Businesses and individuals welcome.
Become a Community Partner and stand with the youth of Greater New Haven.
Interested in joining HVN Academy? Reach out to learn about tryouts, seasons, and age groups.
Email: info@hvnacademy.org
Home court: Greater New Haven, Connecticut
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Email: info@hvnacademy.org