Shoot Hoops

Seven free regional Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camps taught by former UK all-star Jeff Sheppard were held across southern and eastern Kentucky this summer. Participants receive a free basketball, T-shirt, water and hotdogs.

DSC_0155Shoot Hoops camps provide participants an opportunity to interact with positive role models, receive positive anti-drug and self-esteem messages in conjunction with basic basketball skills instruction. A brief education program on the signs, symptoms and dangers of drugs is provided to parents and/or guardians.

2010 hoops_not_drugs colorCamps

  • Camps began at Leatherwood Elementary School in Perry County on Tuesday, June 8, with 110 youth from four counties (Perry, Harlan, Leslie and Letcher) attending. To view photos click here.
  • There were 89 youth from Leslie County at Mountain View Elementary School in Hyden on Thursday, June 10. To view photos click here.
  • There were 110 youth from four counties (Estill, Fayette, Letcher and Madison) at the Estill County High School camp on Monday, June 28. (This camp was provided through a grant obtained by WestCare-Kentucky.) To view photos click here.
  • Two Pike County camps on Tuesday, June 29, drew 122 youth from Pike, Floyd and Martin counties. Camps were held at Phelps High School and East Ridge High School. To view photos click here.
  • Five counties (Jackson, Clay, Knox, Laurel and Whitley) were represented by the 155 youth attending camp on Thursday, July 8, at Jackson County Middle School. To view photos click here.
  • There were 279 participants from 11 counties (Breathitt, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin and Perry) and three other states (Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) at the Knott County SportsPlex on Thursday, July 15. Former University of Kentucky basketball players J.P. Blevins, Sarah Elliott, Ravi Moss and Bobby Perry assisted Jeff with the instruction and gave inspirational talks to the youth. To view photos click here.

DSC_0041All participants in the UNITE-sponsored camps receive a specially designed event shirt, regulation autographed Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball, and were entered into a drawing for portable basketball goals to be given away at each location.

Drug-free fun

Presented by Phoenix Products, Shoot Hoops Not Drugs programs teach school-age youth fundamental basketball skills while emphasizing the importance for them to stay drug-free. Camps are fun, interactive, and provide a safe, drug-free activity where children have an opportunity to interact with positive role models while learning fundamental basketball skills.

DSC_0114As a senior at the University of Kentucky, Sheppard was named the NCAA’s Final Four Most Valuable Player in the Wildcats’ 1997-98 National Championship season. He would later go on to play one season with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and 3 years in Italy.

Some of the best volunteers at camp have been the residents and staff from the WestCare and Chad’s Hope treatment facilities. Their enthusiasm for helping youth stay positive and headed in a drug-free direction has added an extra spark to the instruction.

Through July 2010 there have been 33 Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps drawing 4,307 youth participants from 52 Kentucky counties, 11 other states and Mexico.

In addition to Phoenix Products, the sponsors for the 2010 tour include Pikeville Medical Center, SouthEast Telephone, Senture, Jackson Energy, Knott Drug Abuse Council, WestCare Kentucky, Knott County Sportsplex, Leatherwood Elementary School UNITE Club and Walmart.

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