Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus recently welcomed students, educators and community partners for the return of Pascal Siakam and the Data Dunkers year-end celebration.
Data Dunkers is a program that uses basketball as a gateway for youth to explore data science, technology and future career pathways.
From the moment students entered the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, the atmosphere was filled with excitement. Smiles, laughter and cheers filled the space as participants gathered to celebrate months of learning. The energy built even more when Siakam joined the event. For many students, the opportunity to meet an NBA champion while sharing their own work was a memorable and encouraging experience.
Students from schools with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board gathered at Humber to present projects developed through months of hands-on learning. Supported by Siakam’s PS43 Foundation in partnership with Dell Technologies, Data Dunkers introduces students in Grades 5 to 12 to data literacy by connecting analytics and coding with the game of basketball.
Throughout the event, students demonstrated how data can move beyond numbers to become a tool for discovery and problem-solving. Presentations explored how statistics can reveal patterns in performance, support decision-making and inspire new ideas while also encouraging collaboration and confidence among participants. Students cheered on their peers during presentations, creating a supportive environment that reflected pride in their work.
A highlight of the celebration came from students at St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School, whose presentation showcased the depth of learning developed through the program. The group shared how they analyzed WNBA data, learned introductory Python coding and collected their own basketball shooting data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Their work extended into designing a prototype device aimed at helping players improve shooting form using coding and machine learning concepts, showing how lessons learned in class can turn into practical ideas.
The NBA champion and former Toronto Raptor, who participated in a student panel, praised the group’s efforts and preparation.
“This was incredible. We’ve done a couple of these and I’m definitely impressed. This was probably the best presentation I’ve seen,” he told the students, drawing applause and excited cheers from the crowd.
For many participants, the opportunity to present their work in front of peers, teachers and a professional athlete added another layer of meaning to the experience. Student presenter Israel Akintabe described the moment as especially memorable.
“I felt like that was one of my dreams come true,” Akintabe said. “Getting to show something I worked very hard on in front of someone as famous as him, I felt like that was one of the bucket list items checked off.”
The event emphasized the broader goal of Data Dunkers by helping students see how skills developed through sport and technology can connect to opportunities beyond the court. Students explored how analytical thinking can apply to fields ranging from sports analytics to technology and community-focused careers.
As the celebration wrapped up with group photos and conversations among students, mentors and organizers, the building remained filled with smiles and excitement. The return of Data Dunkers to Humber reinforced the value of creating spaces for curiosity and community, allowing young learners to see how their ideas can grow when given the opportunity to be shared.