Hoop Service Basketball is a developmental program created for boys and girls in the Kansas City metropolitan area of Wyandotte, Johnson, and Jackson counties. It was started in 1997 by former Kansas Jayhawk, Calvin Thompson.

Our mission is to get young people involved in meaningful activities that help them learn life skills necessary for successfully completing tasks and reaching their maximum potential both on and off the court. The program works to enhance each youth's ability to problem solve an get along with others through athletics. Communication skills, assertiveness, teamwork, and the ability to ask for support are the social skills that are fostered.

Participation in Hoop Service is not based upon one's ability to pay or play but rather on commitment. Commitment to self improvement, to discipline, and to hard work. Commitment to respecting others, to teamwork, and to helping others achieve their own potential. Commitment to reaching out to others who have less, whether it be less money, less skill, or less confidence.

The lesson in commitment, along with the developmental enrichment offered through the program, leads to college scholarships, both academic and athletic, for many of the programs participants. A college education for some would not be possible without these scholarships.

Our long term goal is to be able to provide after school care for those in need as well, as weekend and summer school opportunities. We would also like to add other sports and activities to the program, which, in turn, allows us to reach out to more kids.It would also put us in a position to host various events which would help to raise the additional funds to operate and manage Hoop Service.

Hoop Service's operation consists of playing in leagues, tournaments and hosting camps on a year round basis. Both the player and parent must understand the importance of teamwork and commitment. Grades 4-8 play during the fall and winter months (September-March) and the high school kids play during the spring and summer months (April-August). The high school kids play in a number of exposure events such as the Miss Basketball Championships in Kearney, Nebraska and the Adidas nationals in Minnesota. Exposure tournaments provide the kids an opportunity to be seen by a number of college coaches which help in recruiting efforts.