It takes a lot for a Newtown Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) Recreation or Travel basketball game to be played and for everything to run smoothly as expected: From there being uniforms on the backs of players to the opposing teams, score keepers, and referees being on-site ... to the availability of court itself.

There are many people who are to be appreciated for making this all happen under the direction of NYBA President Top Martinez. For his efforts, Martinez has been recognized with the Newtown Bee’s Sportsman of the Year Award (established in 1986) — which since 2008 has honored late Newtown Bee Sports Editor Kim Harmon — for 2024.

Martinez, 67, has been with the youth basketball program for 15 years, first getting on board when his grandson, Preston, needed a coach.

“It piqued my interest and I’ve been stuck with it ever since,” he said. “I started coaching other teams and they became part of my family.”

Almost literally. Martinez said members of that first team he coached are all still friends. “They come over every Christmas,” he added.

Martinez continues to coach to this day. He is an assistant coach with the eighth grade travel team and has been with this group since they were fourth graders; he also is the head coach of the fifth grade Blue travel squad, and supervisor for the fifth grade Recreation team. Sportsmanship, teamwork, and having fun are the names of the game in the NYBA program, Martinez said. He had shirts made up for players that read: “Play Hard. Play Smart. Play Together.”

Martinez grew up playing baseball and basketball in Harlem, N.Y. A notable coach he had was James Hester, a second-round draft pick by the Detroit Pistons, who invited Martinez to be a camp counselor at a community center Hester ran, Martinez said. “I had good instruction. I think people were interested in my well-being and learning. I’ve taken that and passed it along, he said.

A baseball standout, Martinez went on to pitch AA ball. He moved to Bethel back in 1995 before relocating to New Jersey ... then coming back to Connecticut, landing in Newtown in 2000, and has been here ever since. Martinez is the senior director of data management for Travelers Insurance. He and his wife, Edda have three children: Robert, Delilah, and Christopher, each of whom he has coached throughout the years. Grandchildren, in addition to Preston, are Siobhan, Austin, and Ocean Damato-Martinez.

Whether it is the X’s and O’s on the court or behind-the-scenes efforts to make the program better, Martinez is heavily involved. Each year youth players join the Newtown High School girls’ and boys’ varsity teams for games that include pizza parties.

The program has 18 travel teams, more than 50 Recreation lineups, and about two-dozen High School Senior League squads. Throughout the years Martinez has enjoyed watching players he coaches or simply observes develop skills and bring their games to the next level, with some of them going on to compete at the high school.

“I’ve seen improvement overall in the program,” he said.

Martinez notes that the NYBA board as a whole is to be credited for the program functioning so well throughout the years. “Their dedication and service to the Newtown Basketball community allows the program to flourish,” said Martinez, citing Jimmy Glynn (Treasurer and Travel Program Vice President), Rick McLeod (Webmaster and High School Senior League VP), Thomas Ragusa (Girls’ Rec VP), P.J. Gerrish (Boys’ Rec VP), and Jayme Beckham (Compliance Officer).

“They’re very valuable to me. I’m very appreciative of their efforts and the time they put in. They’re very committed to making sure everyone has a good time.”

That said there is a need for more helping hands in the program. “I really need volunteers. I do a lot of juggling,” said Martinez, who puts about 20 hours of his time into the NYBA program each week all winter long, culminating with March playoff and all star games.

“He’s all about the kids — I think that’s the biggest thing. Making the program the best it can be,” said Glynn, who has been with NYBA since 2018. “He puts so much time into this. He’s got a passion for it, too.”

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.