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Operation Basketball runs a lineup of transformative programs that use the game to change lives. Whether you’re looking for therapy through hoops, a pathway to your first job, a shot at a college scholarship, or a community celebration — there’s a place for you here.
Each program blends basketball with real-world tools: mental health support, job training, exposure opportunities, and safe spaces to grow.
Explore the options below, learn what’s involved, and register to get in the game.
Where the mind meets the game.
A 12-week basketball league infused with licensed therapy, mentorship, and mental health tools to help youth heal while they hoop.
Hoops Therapy combines structured basketball training with weekly group therapy sessions led by licensed professionals.
Participants get to develop their game and their mindset through:
Weekly league games & practices
Group therapy & guided discussion
Emotional check-ins and wellness journals
Guest speakers, mentors, and surprise drop-ins
This isn’t just ball—it’s about becoming whole, strong, and seen.
Chicago youth face daily exposure to trauma—violence, loss, instability. But they rarely get space to process it.
Hoops Therapy gives them tools to:
Talk through what they’ve survived
Build emotional regulation
Learn how to set healthy boundaries
Feel safe in community
Therapy is the gym for your mind. We train both.
Young men aged 13–18 who:
Love basketball
Are ready to grow mentally and emotionally
May be dealing with grief, trauma, anger, or anxiety
Want a safe space to build brotherhood and bounce back
No prior experience in therapy required—just a willingness to show up and be real.
Spring 2025 Season
📅 March 1st – May 24th
🏀 Games every Saturday, 12–4 PM
🗣 Therapy sessions every Wednesday evening
📍 Chicago Park District gyms (West + South Side locations)
Snacks, gear, and transportation provided when needed.
Where hustle turns into hired.
A 6-week basketball + career readiness experience that preps young adults for real-world opportunities.
Jumpers & Jobs mixes basketball drills with real-world job training. Each week includes:
Court time with coaches and teammates
Workshops on resumes, interviews, workplace etiquette
Sessions on money management and entrepreneurship
Guest speakers from tech, trade, and creative industries
This is where potential turns into a paycheck.
You won’t just get a resume—you’ll get ready. Participants leave with:
A polished resume and elevator pitch
Interview confidence and public speaking skills
Time management and professionalism
Knowledge of career paths and how to get started
We help you ball in life, not just on the court.
Young men and women ages 16–24 who are:
Looking for a summer job, internship, or first step in a career
Ready to learn about personal branding and professionalism
Passionate about their future—even if they’re unsure where to begin
Perfect for students, recent grads, and youth in transition.
Spring 2025 Cohort
📅 April 15 – May 31
🗓 Basketball: Saturdays
🖥 Career Workshops: Tuesdays & Thursdays (evenings)
📍 Various South and West Side community centers
🍕 Meals, laptops, and support provided as needed
Where raw talent gets seen.
A high-level basketball exposure event designed for overlooked seniors and unsigned graduates.
This one-day event gives serious hoopers a real platform:
Athletic combine (vertical, speed, agility)
Skill stations (shooting, dribbling, defense)
5v5 full-court games
Exposure to D2, D3, JUCO, NAIA, and prep school scouts
Social media coverage, photography, and highlight reels
You bring the game—we bring the eyes.
Every year, thousands of talented athletes go overlooked due to:
Lack of exposure
No recruiting support
Financial or geographic barriers
This event is our answer—giving late bloomers and underdogs their fair shot.
You must be:
A high school senior, post-grad, or JUCO freshman
Unsigned with college eligibility remaining
Serious about playing at the next level
Coachable, competitive, and team-oriented
Film or reference may be required upon registration.
April 2025
📅 One-day event (TBD date)
🏀 Check-in, combine, and games run all day
📍 South Side gym (location announced March 1)
🥤 Meals, jerseys, and athletic trainers provided
Peace through play.
A city-wide 3-on-3 basketball festival and block party celebrating unity, culture, and community.
Hoopfest isn’t just about buckets—it’s about bringing the city together. Each site features:
3-on-3 and 5-on-5 tournaments
DJs, live performances, food vendors
Resource booths (mental health, jobs, housing)
Safe zones, giveaways, and contests
All free. All love. All Chicago.
We use basketball as a tool to:
Build bridges between neighborhoods
Offer safe outlets for youth
Celebrate Black and Brown joy
Show that peace can be powerful
When the court is the common ground, everything changes.
Youth ages 12–24
Open divisions for adults and women
Local nonprofits, schools, and block clubs encouraged to register teams
Volunteers, vendors, and sponsors welcome!
Summer 2025 (July)
📅 Multi-site event over 2 weekends
📍 Parks across South and West Side
⛱ Outdoor courts, rain plans in place
🍔 Family-friendly with free meals & activities
Get More, Pay Less | 250$\Month