PEORIA (25News Now) – A basketball non-profit is doing more than teaching the game, it’s stepping up to help a growing crisis within the Peoria area.
Hoops Inc. is a sports non-profit that brings a nurturing environment to help young people and adults find their way physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Jared Jackson and Devonte Keeton are from the Peoria area and said basketball has been an outlet for grief as both men lost loved ones to gun violence.
“It was therapy, when I was sad, basketball, when I was mad, basketball, just keep my mind off a lot of things,” said Keeton.
”I can’t put it into words. I would go play basketball or go to the gym and lift. It was just a way to clear my mind,” said Jackson.
Devonte Keeton lost his brother, Tommie Forest, to gun violence at age 14.
“He had been shot in the head. He was at a friend’s house, playing a game with a couple of his friends. They’re getting ready for a football game, and some guys came in, kicked the door in, looking for some other people, and shot my brother and shot the other guys as well,” Keeton said.
Jared Jackson also lost his cousin, Mikequese Taylor, to gun violence this past year.
Taylor was visiting his two-month-old son in Peoria while attending college in Kansas City. During the visit, Taylor was ambushed by two men in masks and was killed.
Jackson said his cousin was a star basketball player in the Peoria area.
“I love playing against him growing up; he would always push me,” said Jackson.
On the Peoria Police Department’s website, in June, the city reported on four homicides.
Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young, Psychotherapist, PH.D. Peoria County Jail and Peoria City Council Member, At-Large said; many reasons in a person’s life can lead them to violence.
“Often, it is retaliatory, a lot of times that is because it is difficult to navigate these emotions,” she said.
Gordon-Young added that sports and activities have a likelihood to decrease criminal activity.
“All the life skills that you learn through sports and activities decrease. A division that occurs because my team and I are going to practice, those other individuals who are doing {violent activities} separate,” she said
Hoops Inc. CEO Willie Williams said it’s his mission to help those who face similar struggles find an outlet by playing basketball with them several days a week.
“A lot of people don’t have anyone to speak to or talk to, and I’m just an advocate, and the hoops team is just an advocate of people they can talk to and confide in,” he said.
Williams added he wants Hoops Inc. to be a safe space for those in need.
“We’re going to help get Christ in your life. Teaching about love and about serving others,” he said.
Devonte and Jared said Willie has taught not just a healing way to move forward, but family.
“He talks a lot about the ups and downs he went through, and I went through,” said Keeton.
“If I ever have a question regarding basketball or life, I know I can talk to him about it,” said Jackson.
For those interested in joining Hoops Inc. Willie plays basketball with all ages four times a week at the Clubs of River City in Peoria.
Willie is also planning a Hoops Bowling League within the community.
Hoops Bowling League(25News)
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CityPickle Kids: Youth Academy Launching Winter 2026, CityPickle is debuting NYC’s first leveled, 12-week junior pickleball program for ages 8–13. Pickleball has emerged as a leader in youth sports, with more than 240 collegiate clubs nationwide (and even varsity programs!). Families are increasingly seeking structured, skill-building opportunities for their children.
CityPickle’s Youth Academy meets that demand with a thoughtfully designed curriculum created by Head of Coaching Josh Gartman, mirroring the rigor and progression of elite junior tennis programs. Players advance through three levels — Competitor, Challenger, and Champion — with coach evaluations at the start and end of each season. The invite-only Champion tier includes tweens and teens with serious talent (and yes, they can already beat most adults).
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – A NFL Flag Football youth initiative is coming to Amarillo. This league catered toward youth is bringing new, non-contact sports for kids to get involved and learn the game of football in a different way while still having fun.
The Texas Panhandle is expanding the opportunity for youth to get more involved this summer through the NFL Flag Football program. This league gives boys and girls in Amarillo the chance to play with an NFL name.
Amarillo native, Tascosa High School alum and program owner and operator for this new initiative Mark Jackson explained why he wanted to bring this opportunity to Amarillo to give youth in the Panhandle the chance to be part of a growing sport and put an emphasis on the importance of inclusivity for the sport.
National reach and local opportunity
“When I had the opportunity to bring it up here because they’re playing all across the nation. Over 500,000 youth across the United States are playing right now. So I said, why not Amarillo? Why not, the kids up here have a chance to play like the kids across the United States and have a chance to, you know, maybe be national champions and go to the Pro Bowl and go to other countries and play,” Jackson said. “So, yeah, that’s why I did it.”
Jackson emphasized the NFL’s commitment to inclusivity.
“Well, that’s one of the NFL’s initiative is to have everybody included. Girls, boys, it doesn’t matter. They want everybody who wants to play to play. That’s what we’re gonna, in Amarillo, we’re gonna give. If you’re a girl, it don’t matter. If you think you can play football or you want to tell your dad or mom, look, I want to play, get out there,” he said.
Registration and schedule
Registration will open in January. Games will start at the end of June and beginning of July.
This league is for boys and girls and open to ages 13 through 17. There is still time to get involved as an athlete or a coach as well.
An official website for this initiative and where people can donate to help this grow will be announced at a later time.
BEREA – “Human Nature” couldn’t have been on louder display Sunday afternoon at Conkin Gym if the decades-old Michael Jackson song by that title had been blaring over the speakers.
One of the toughest challenges of coaching youth sports is keeping your troops focused when they’re beating the opponent like a drum. Matt Walls has seen it up-close two days in a row, and at least a half dozen times already this season with his Great Crossing girls’ basketball team.
“I don’t know if we just need to stay out on the court during halftime,” Walls wondered half-jokingly. “Do I walk out and try to keep them in there themselves to figure it out? Have I got to go in there and yell and stomp and act like a crazy man?”
It’s a happy problem, one Great Crossing will take into the championship round of the Berea Holiday Classic after a 54-19 pummeling of the host Pirates.
Monday’s title game against West Jessamine, a 67-36 winner over Lexington Catholic, tips off at 4:15 p.m. It’s a rematch of last year’s final in the Bryan Station Defender Classic, won by the Colts.
Great Crossing (8-3) held Berea (3-4) to one field goal in each of the first two periods and led by 30 at the end of the first half, in which sophomore Samantha Brown scored 22 of the Warhawks’ 41 points.
Brown buried five 3-pointers in the first half and hit her program record-tying sixth midway through the third quarter.
A couple of rim-outs and the one-sided nature of the contest stopped her there at 25. For now, she shares the single-game mark of six triples with Rachel Smith, who did it on three different occasions.
“She filled it up. I don’t know how many she ended up with. Especially how open she was, she’ll shoot it all night,” Walls said. “The way she shoots it, I’m sure she’ll have (the record by herself) at some point within the next few years. If she can start making six a game, that would be really nice.”
Brown, able to rise and fire almost every time without a Berea defender even in her shadow, scored 10 of the Warhawks’ first 12 points and had 16 at the end of the first quarter.
Kendall Kearney also delivered a deep three and a pull-up jumper in that stanza, while Emery Corrigan and Maya Custard each chipped in a transition basket.
Great Crossing led 17-0 with 3:40 still remaining in the period. It was 25-6 at the horn.
Corrigan and Brown christened the second quarter with 3-pointers from opposite corners, followed by another steal and layup from Corrigan.
“Our defense and our offense in the first half might have been one of the best halves we’ve played all year,” Walls said. “That’s what we talked about. Making that extra pass. Trying to get open looks. Just drive it and make them guard you, especially in the zone defense there. If we drive that gap and make them collapse down, we can get consistent looks that way.”
Threes by Natalya Nafee in the first quarter and Avery Plessinger in the second were the only first-half offense aside from free throws for the Pirates.
Berea finished with nine more turnovers (28) than field goal attempts (19) on the day, in part due to an 18-3 differential in fouls. The hosts missed 14 of their 23 attempts from the line.
GC found equally unkind rims after intermission, dipping from its break-even clip of 16-for-32 in the first half to 6-for-28 on the other side.
“It’s hard to have a killer instinct when you’re shooting 21 percent from the field,” Walls said. “Whatever we made in the first half, we missed in the second half.”
Maddie Napier’s basket capped the third quarter and pushed the lead past the running clock threshold at 50-14.
Great Crossing has held opponents to an average of 37.6 points per game in its eight wins. Only one of those victories was in any real second-half danger.
“I told them to get ready for the end of the year and just use it as a practice session,” Walls said. “Work on our stuff. Work on our execution. We’ve got to have that mindset about us at some point.”
Brown supplemented her perimeter prowess with six rebounds. Corrigan added 14 points, while Kearney stacked up seven points, five assists and four steals.
Custard, Corrigan, Brown and Claire Tierney joined Kearney with multiple takeaways.
GC seeks its first tournament title since the Bourbon County Classic in December 2021.
“It’s got to be a mentality,” Walls said. “You’ve got to learn how to do it. It doesn’t come naturally. Hopefully we can start learning tomorrow (Monday),”
West Jessamine has won five of six since losing both its games at the Billy Hicks Classic on Dec. 9 and 11.
“I know their really good girl (Claire Marshall) is hurt,” Walls said. “That’s a big loss for them. You’ve got to take what is given to you.”
Egyptian Swimming Federation Under Scrutiny After Swimmer’s Death
The Egyptian Swimming Federation is facing major changes in the wake the death of a swimmer at the national under-12 championships in December in Cairo.
According to Reuters, the federation has been forced to appoint an interim committee to run the organization after the head of the federation and its board were removed last week. The Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports has reached out to World Aquatics for interim guidance of the federation.
A swimmer named Youssef Mohamed Abdel Malek drowned during a meet on Dec. 2 at Cairo’s International Stadium swimming complex. Per reports from within the country, Malek’s body was not found until the start of the following race.
Yasser Idris, the head of the swimming federation and a member of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, has been ordered by public prosecutors to stand trial. Also referred for prosecution are the executive director of the swimming federation, its board, the director of the meet, its chief referee, other officials from the Al-Zohour Sporting Club and several lifeguards. All are accused of failure to do their duty in keeping Malek and other swimmers safe.
The Ministry of Youth Sports referred the matter to public prosecution following an investigation that included interviews with witnesses present and reviewing video footage of the incident.
In a statement, the swimming federation said it was halting all activities, “out of respect for public opinion and the family of Youssef Mohamed, pledging full compliance with court rulings and accountability for anyone found negligent.”
Teaching Generosity: How 4H youth turn the holiday season into a time of service
Published 1:09 am Monday, December 29, 2025
By Meghan Corvin / County Extension Coordinator
“I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living….” Every meeting for 4-H members across the country begins with these familiar words, helping them connect to the values that nurture their growth as young leaders. The phrase “my hands to larger service” goes beyond mere words; it acts as a call to action and a reminder that genuine leadership begins with generosity, compassion, and a readiness to serve others.
The holiday season provides a meaningful opportunity to teach young people the value of generosity. Across the country, 4-H highlights that generosity is a key component of positive youth development, alongside belonging, mastery, and independence. Each element is crucial in fostering confident and compassionate young people. The University of Georgia Extension has long emphasized that learning about generosity helps youth understand how to give back to their communities in meaningful ways, and that 4-H members are committed to improving their “club, community, country, and world.” Research from Tufts University reinforces this message, stating that 4-H youth are four times more likely to make positive contributions to their communities than their peers. During the holiday season, acts of giving, such as volunteering, making cards for seniors, or collecting winter clothing, highlight generosity and help young people develop empathy, leadership, and resilience by teaching them to look beyond themselves. These experiences strengthen communities while instilling confidence and responsibility in youth.
This season is an ideal time to promote generosity. Communities recognize more needs, families are more open to giving, and young people participate in acts of kindness. The holidays emphasize service naturally, and volunteering encourages youth to develop lifelong giving habits. When young people serve together with neighbors, local leaders, and peers, they form meaningful community bonds. These shared experiences foster a sense of belonging and purpose, helping youth see themselves as important members of their community.
Generosity in 4-H isn’t limited to the holidays. It’s a year-round practice that encourages youth to give their time, talents, and energy to meaningful causes. Still, the holiday season provides a unique opportunity to emphasize and celebrate this vital aspect of positive youth development and foster lifelong habits. Ultimately, teaching youth to give during the holidays is more than just a festive activity; it’s an investment in the future. When young people see that generosity can be shown through simple acts of kindness or larger service projects, they carry those lessons into adulthood. The season becomes not just a time of receiving, but a time of shaping caring leaders who will continue to serve and engage their communities.
Meghan Corvin is the County Extension Coordinator and 4-H Youth Development Agent for the University of Georgia Extension, Whitfield County. Contact her at 706.278.8207 or meghan.corvin@uga.edu.
