Shoot Hoops Not Drugs

6 Regional SHND Camps held in June 2023

	Floyd County – June 6 Floyd Central High School • 115 youth from 6 Kentucky counties plus Tennessee participated. • 49 parents/guardians attended educational program. View 122 photos from camp
	Lee County – June 8 Lee County High School • 120 youth frrom 6 Kentucky counties participated. • 33 parents/guardians attended educational program. View 122 photos from camp
	Lawrence County – June 13 Lawrence County High School • 137 youth from 5 Kentucky counties plus 2 West Virginia counties participated. * 39 parents/guardians attended educational program. View 134 photos from camp
	Wayne County – June 15 Wayne County Middle School • 108 youth from 4 Kentucky counties participated. • 54 parents/guardians attended educational program. View 144 photos from camp
	Laurel County Laurel-London Optimist Club • 70 youth from 4 Kentucky counties plus Indiana participated. • 23 parents/guardians attended educational program. View 128 photos from camp
	Garrard County Garrard County Middle School • 100 youth from 5 Kentucky counties participated. • 41 parents/guardians attended educational program. View 135 photos from camp

All camps begin at 4 pm and end at 7 pm.

There is no preregistration, but participants are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign-in. Basketballs and T-shirts are distributed at the end of camp, and you must be present to win the 2 basketball goals that will be given away at each camp.

This year’s awareness program for parents/guardians will address the dangers posed by fentanyl, which accounted for approximately 70% of overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2021, the last year data is available from the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy..

Download a 2023 SHND Flyer (all camps)

Become A Sponsor

Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camps are funded entirely through sponsorships and donations.

Download a 2023 Sponsor Form

Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy

Operation UNITE conducted its first Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camp with Jarrod Polson at the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan on Wednesday, May 31. This was the first year to present a camp for the Spring class. A total of 84 cadets participated.

View 90 photos

Since its inception in 2006 through June 30, 2023, there have been 104 Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps drawing 13,293 youth participants from 63 Kentucky counties, 20 other states, and two other countries – England and Mexico.

About the camps

Shoot Hoops camps provide school-age youth an opportunity to interact with positive role models, receive positive life-skill and self-esteem messages that emphasize the importance for them to stay drug-free, all while receiving basic basketball skills instruction.

All participants in the UNITE-sponsored camps::

Receive a specially designed event T-shirt
Receive a regulation-sized autographed Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball
Are entered into a drawing for two portable basketball goals that are given away at the conclusion of each camp location. (You must be present to win.)

Water and food are provided to everyone attending each camp.

Adult Education

As part of each camp, parents and guardians are invited to attend a brief educational program. The focus for 2023 was on the dangers of Fentanyl, which accounted for more than 7 of every 10 overdose fatalities in 2021.

Since inception, 3,012 adults have attended these drug prevention / awareness education sessions

Positive Role-Models

Some of the best volunteers at camp have been the residents and staff from residential treatment facilities located within UNITE’s service region. Their enthusiasm for helping youth make good choices, stay positive, and headed in a drug-free direction has added an extra spark to the skills instruction.

In addition, members of the host county’s UNITE Community Coalition provide much-appreciated support by assisting with registration, food preparation and service, and event cleanup.

Camp photos

To view photos from previous Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps click on the year.

2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010

About Jarrod Polson

Former University of Kentucky point guard and four-time All-SEC Academic Team member Jarrod Polson conducts the SHND camps.

A native of Wilmore, Polson set the Kentucky High School Athletic Association record for free throws attempted and made in a January 2009 game in which he tallied 50 points. As a senior, he helped lead West Jessamine High School to the second round of the Sweet 16 state tournament and was named First Team All-State. He finished his high-school career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,884 points.

Originally a walk-on at UK, the 6-foot-2 point guard quickly impressed Coach John Calipari, who gave him a full scholarship before his freshman year began. Although receiving only limited playing time during his first two seasons – which included a National Championship during the 2011-12 season – Polson proved himself in the 2012-13 season-opening game against Maryland. After being inserted for an ailing teammate, he logged 10-points, a key steal, and clutch free throws in the waning minutes of the game to solidify his spot in the rotation.

Over his four years at UK, Polson played in 94 games, scoring a total of 140 points with a .424 field goal percentage (.313 three-point percentage). In the spring of 2014, the West Jessamine Colts retired Polson’s jersey – the first time that distinction had been awarded in school history.

Polson, who assisted with several camps in 2015 and 2016, took over the camps from SHND founder Jeff Sheppard in 2017.