Mental Health America spoke with the campers about the importance of maintaining and understanding their mental health. Being mindful of encouraging the teenagers and volunteers in attendance to speak up when they needed help. They also encouraged campers and volunteers to figure out a self-care routine and to give themselves grace while going through difficult times. During the sports administration session, employees from the Wizards and Commanders spoke with campers about life beyond playing sports and how they can stay within the sport they love. Think John Thompson’s legendary flatball speech.

 The highlight players of the week were Jamie Taylor for the girls and Andres Angola Gonzales. 

Taylor was amongst the hardest workers on the court during ball handling drills and as Coach Johnnie Shuler ran the campers through scripted play scenarios. During the scrimmage portion, Taylor ran the floor well and took advantage of her many opportunities to score at the rim in transition.

Gonzales received plenty of hard coaching during Week 4; he accepted it and used it as motivation to improve throughout the day. During the scrimmages, Gonzales was a force on the defensive end, forcing plenty of turnovers while working on seeing the floor and seeing his teammates streaking down the floor for easy layups.

Truist Bank came in second to round out the workshop portion of the camp, educating the campers about the key goals of personal finance. The guest speaker emphasized that now, as teenagers working their jobs, they have to understand their financial situation and track their daily expenses. He also informed the campers about the 60-20-20 rule: 60% of your income is dedicated to your needs (including debts), 20% to your wants, and 20% to your savings.

For the basketball portion of the day. Roger Thompson from Theodore Roosevelt High School and Indira Best from Jackson-Reed High School were selected as the Boy’s and Girl’s Highlight Players of the Week. Thompson’s positive energy was infectious; during the drill portion of the day, he was one of the most competitive players up and down the court during the defensive slide and change of direction drills. During the scrimmage portion, Thompson was a nightmare in transition and found his way to the paint for smooth buckets at the rim.

Week 2 of the One Shot program was highlighted by THE Howard University Hospital Department of Psychiatry, gracing the campers for the weekly workshop. Commissioner Amoo led a workshop about the business of sports, namely the function of the NBA players union, teams, and how the campers must treat themselves like a business as much as basketball players. The Commissioner also spoke to the campers about the constantly evolving NIL landscape and the opportunities many men and women can take advantage of in college.

Week 2 featured Coach Boo Jackson, Coach Shuler, NCAT alum Coach Shannon Nichele, and Hampton women’s basketball alum Nas Nigatu handling the on-court session of the camp. Jackson and Shuler coached the boys, while Nigatu and Nichele coached the girls. During the scrimmage session to end the day,  Jason Afeni stood as the boy’s standout of the week. Afeni lived in the paint and finished at the rim efficiently, especially in transition. The girls standout of the week was Arielle Turner. Although Turner is the smallest camper, she played with the confidence and fearlessness of Allen Iverson. She didn’t allow the pressure of playing with physical defenders to stop her from handling the rock and making her way to the rim.

Week 1:

Boys Highlight Player of the Week:

Jason Afeni

School: Banneker High School

Grade: 9th

Girls Highlight Player of the Week:

Arielle Turner

School: Coolidge High School

Grade: 9th

The One Shot Program brought to you by Hoop For All is a 10-week program designed to give emerging and seasoned High School hoopers a chance to improve their games while learning important lessons once the ball stops with weekly workshops. Hoop for All Commissioner Ayokunle Abe Amoo and First Lady KB Thomas enlisted some noted coaches from all around the DMV, including former All-Met and DCSAA champion Johnnie Shuler, coach and basketball operations assistant at the St James, Megan ‘MJ’ Reynolds, Swaggsports CEO Shannon Nichele, and former pro and DMV basketball legend Christian “Boo” Jackson. 

Before the work begins, Hoop For All brings a unique element to their program with weekly workshops designed to teach the campers about the game outside of the game. The workshops are designed to talk about the lessons you will need once the ball stops. Topics like financial literacy with Truist Bank, nutrition and body wellness, and the business of the sports, as well as the constantly-evolving name, image, and likeness opportunities many men and women can take advantage of in college.

Week 1:

Boys Highlight Player of the Week:

Antoine Johnson

School: Theodore Roosevelt High School

Grade: 10th

Girls Highlight Player of the Week:

Jamia Taylor

School: Dunbar High School

Grade: 11th