In January 2007, 10 male youths from Hillcrest Continuation High School in Inglewood, CA were recruited by the H.O.O.P. Foundation to form a basketball team. The team practiced in the New Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church gymnasium. Word of mouth began to promote the activity, and over the course of the next two months, the number of team participants increased to 15; ending with 25 participants served in the first quarter.

 

From April to June 2007 the team was divided into two age groups (18+under and 18-24). The team entered the Slam-Jam Basketball Tournament in Compton, in the Greater Los Angeles Narcotics Anonymous Basketball League from June to August. In the fall of 2007, the 18-24-year-old team participated in the Redondo Beach Parks and Recreation Adult League. By the end of the year, the basketball program experienced as many as 35 youth participants.

 

From 2008-2009, the program continued to operate under the same schedule. The 18-24-year-old team continued to participate in the Redondo Beach League, while the 18+under squad participated in the Slam-Jam tournament and the West Angeles Summer Basketball League. In June of 2008, the H.O.O.P. Magic Weekend was held at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys’ & Girls’ Club in Los Angeles, CA. This event grew the following year and was held at the USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, Currently the Weekend runs as a 6-week Summer Basketball and Life Skills Camp.