September 14, 2012 As written By The Niagara Gazette
Couple to make hoop dreams come true
Niagara Gazette — Uniforms aren’t necessary to play basketball, but having them certainly helps to define a team’s identity.
For the Cataract City Basketball League’s Trojans, uniforms are one of many needs the team is seeking to fill.
“There aren’t a lot of things for these kids to do besides basketball,” said Andre Jant, who with his fiance, Ilian Lewis, coaches and manages the team. The pair has big dreams for the team’s future. “I think they’re really good, and they have a lot of potential,” said Lewis. She and Jant are in the process of incorporating a non-profit group called “Hoop Dreams,” which, in addition to basketball, will be a mentorship and community service program.
“It’s about doing things on and off the court,” Jant said.
Jant became involved with the team after his nephew, a member of the Trojans, mentioned that they were searching for another coach.
“I really enjoy helping kids,” he said. “I’ve been doing it since I was 12.”
Lewis says she and Jant took over the team in April because the felt it wasn’t receiving the attention and exposure it deserved.
“We said ‘let’s try to help these kids out, let’s see what can come from it,” she said.
Through their efforts, the team has grown to more than 20 players in two divisions, with players ranging in age from 13 to 25.
Basketball practice is held three times a week at Legends Park. The older players practice on Mon
day, while the younger division practices on Tuesday. On Wednesdays, the two divisions take to the court together for an all-team scrimmage.
Though the park’s outdoor courts provide a feasible playing area for the summer, the team is looking for a more permanent location, especially with colder temperatures looming in the not-too-distant future.
According to Jant, the most attractive option is the currently dormant 13th Street gym. They are applying for a grant from the city of Niagara Falls to cover some of the costs associated with reopening and operating the gym.
The team is also utilizing every fundraising opportunity it can, including selling drinks and candy, holding a cook-off, and having a team fundraising party. Still, much more money is needed.
No uniforms and the lack of an indoor playing facility are only a couple of the challenges the team is facing. There are many opportunities for basketball tournaments in Western New York - some that even have prize money - but the team lacks a form of suitable transportation. Some of the players show up to practice wearing shoes that aren’t suitable for basketball, because that’s all they have. And a recent tournament held on their “home court” at Legends Park had to be cut short because a thunderstorm rolled in.
“We’re hoping and praying that somebody sponsors us,” said Jant, who said that additional funds would allow the team to travel to tournaments in more distant locations such as Cleveland and New York City. “The more tournaments, the better,” he said.
Jant and Lewis make it clear that a player’s actions in the community are just as important as they are at the basketball court. The Hoop Dreams program aims to instill important character virtues in the players by giving back to the community they live in.
“We’re trying to open a community outreach center,” said Jant.
Players currently volunteer at the Community Missions Soup Kitchen and will be working with a senior center in the future. Education is also of high value to the team, as players will need over a 75 average in order to be able to play in games
For most players, basketball is more than just a game, it’s a passion. Many are on the courts almost every day, dedicating themselves to being a better basketball players than they were the month, week, or even the day before. Jant and Lewis hope that, through Hoop Dreams, the participants will not only become better basketball players, but better people as well.
The Trojans practice every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Legends Park in Niagara Falls. For more information, or to sponsor the team, email them at hoopdreamsinc@yahoo.com.
For the Cataract City Basketball League’s Trojans, uniforms are one of many needs the team is seeking to fill.
“There aren’t a lot of things for these kids to do besides basketball,” said Andre Jant, who with his fiance, Ilian Lewis, coaches and manages the team. The pair has big dreams for the team’s future. “I think they’re really good, and they have a lot of potential,” said Lewis. She and Jant are in the process of incorporating a non-profit group called “Hoop Dreams,” which, in addition to basketball, will be a mentorship and community service program.
“It’s about doing things on and off the court,” Jant said.
Jant became involved with the team after his nephew, a member of the Trojans, mentioned that they were searching for another coach.
“I really enjoy helping kids,” he said. “I’ve been doing it since I was 12.”
Lewis says she and Jant took over the team in April because the felt it wasn’t receiving the attention and exposure it deserved.
“We said ‘let’s try to help these kids out, let’s see what can come from it,” she said.
Through their efforts, the team has grown to more than 20 players in two divisions, with players ranging in age from 13 to 25.
Basketball practice is held three times a week at Legends Park. The older players practice on Mon
day, while the younger division practices on Tuesday. On Wednesdays, the two divisions take to the court together for an all-team scrimmage.
According to Jant, the most attractive option is the currently dormant 13th Street gym. They are applying for a grant from the city of Niagara Falls to cover some of the costs associated with reopening and operating the gym.
The team is also utilizing every fundraising opportunity it can, including selling drinks and candy, holding a cook-off, and having a team fundraising party. Still, much more money is needed.
“We’re hoping and praying that somebody sponsors us,” said Jant, who said that additional funds would allow the team to travel to tournaments in more distant locations such as Cleveland and New York City. “The more tournaments, the better,” he said.
Jant and Lewis make it clear that a player’s actions in the community are just as important as they are at the basketball court. The Hoop Dreams program aims to instill important character virtues in the players by giving back to the community they live in.
“We’re trying to open a community outreach center,” said Jant.
Players currently volunteer at the Community Missions Soup Kitchen and will be working with a senior center in the future. Education is also of high value to the team, as players will need over a 75 average in order to be able to play in games
For most players, basketball is more than just a game, it’s a passion. Many are on the courts almost every day, dedicating themselves to being a better basketball players than they were the month, week, or even the day before. Jant and Lewis hope that, through Hoop Dreams, the participants will not only become better basketball players, but better people as well.
The Trojans practice every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Legends Park in Niagara Falls. For more information, or to sponsor the team, email them at hoopdreamsinc@yahoo.com.
