Urban Hoops youth program aims high

Jan. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- The News-Press featured James Long’s new Urban Hoops program in a feature news article in its January 9, 2011 Youth Sports Section. In an article entitled, “Youth program aims high,” sports reporter Tim Ritter salutes Long’s qualifications and vision to provide a comprehensive program designed to enrich the lives of area children through basketball, mentoring, and college preparation.

Urban Hoops is a new, not-for-profit basketball and life skills training program in Fort Myers, Florida that has been born of the need for a comprehensive and enduring solution to the dead-end hopelessness that so many of our area youths feel today.

Its comprehensive basketball, educational and mentoring programs have been designed to instill hope, drive, and ambition in area children to help them succeed in life. The unique after school activities develop the entire child through basketball—from character building, to academics and achievement, and right on to potentially becoming the best basketball player of all time.

Urban Hoops plans to surpass all training and development opportunities currently available to area youth by integrating player development with personal development. Their leaders know from experience that it takes more than just raw athletic talent to be a world-class basketball player. Its programs will boost every child’s self-esteem through character building and solid academic habits to achieve success both on and off the basketball court … for a lifetime.

The organization is community driven. Its educators, coaches, and mentors are the “best of the best” locally who know how to develop children to their fullest potential, using the fundamentals of basketball to develop every child’s individual capabilities and dreams. Its student community service volunteers will come from local schools.

Their “College Jump Start” program will have certified college counselors who will work with families to start to develop individualized college and career plans for their children. They will also coordinate efforts with each student’s local high school counselors to ensure that he or she is academically on the right track for success.

Urban Hoops also hopes to attract and help children with disabilities and special needs. Kids confined to wheelchairs especially need the kind of real hope and added attention that it will provide.

Urban Hoops programs are starting now and it is on track to open its own completely renovated facility in September. As a nonprofit organization, it is seeking donations and supporters. For more information, go to http://www.urbanhoops.com or email jlong@urbanhoops.com.

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