CURRENT/PAST CELEBRITY COACHES
Georges Niang is a professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was an All-American college player for Iowa State University prior to that. Niang is a Massachusetts native who attended Tilton Academy in New Hampshire as a HS player. He also played AAU basketball for the famous BABC basketball club out of Boston. Georges, has played two years in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and now with the Utah Jazz.
Pat is a professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame. Pat also excelled in baseball and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2014 MLB draft. Connaughton is an Arlington native who attended high school at St.Johns Prep in Danvers, MA. Connaughton is a big believer in giving back as he has his own foundation the “With Us” foundation which is a big support system for youth and sports in the Boston area.
Tyler is a professional basketball player who has played for 6 different NBA teams – most recently with the Chicago Bulls. Tyler went to the University of Iowa where he was second team All-Big Ten. The St. Louis native has also spent time in the NBA G-League where he was awarded All-League 3rd Team and most recently was selected for the G-Leagues All-Star Next Up Game.
Gosder is a Somerville native and former NFL player who played for the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gosder played collegiately at Boston College and was a multi-sport athlete at Somerville High School. Gosder currently runs his own Foundation (Gosder Cherilus Foundation) devoted to helping underserved and under privileged youth around the world. Gosder and Sam (Hoops and Hope President) met in High School and developed a relationship in the years following.
Kaayla, is a former WNBA player and current front office executive with the New York Knicks. After being drafted with the 13th pick in the 2004 WNBA draft, Kaayla spent two seasons with the Washington Mystics. She also played professionally in 5 different countries for eight seasons. Prior to her professional career, Kaayla was a standout athlete in Ohio where she was a co-winner of Ms Basketball for bother her junior and senior seasons. Kaayla was also a 3 time McDonald’s All American selection. She followed her high school career by attending North Carolina State University. Following her playing career, Kaayla has worked professionally in the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks front offices as well as held a leadership position with PUMA.
Jalil, who is from Fontana, California is a defender for the New England Revolution of the MLS. Jalil played collegiately at Santa Clara University as well as University of North Carolina. In college he won numerous awards including: NSCAA Second Team All-America, NSCAA First Team All-Region, First Team All-ACC, ACC All-Tournament Team and 2007 WCC Freshman of the Year. In 2009, Jalil was drafted #9 by the Chicago Fire. Jalil has played for 5 different MLS teams.
Greg is a former NBA player who last played for the Toronto Raptors. Greg played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin before going undrafted and working his way up the ranks to become a consistent NBA player. Greg, played in Europe before making it to the NBA and then played 4 years in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors. Greg (who is 6’11) was known as an elite shot blocker.
Ashlee is a current radio host for JAMN 94.5 – one of the top hit music stations in Boston. Prior to her time there, Ashlee was a standout Division 1 basketball player at Northeastern University where she is currently 11th on their all-time scoring list.
Walter is a former NBA player and former Boston Celtics Assistant Coach. He is currently, the new Head Coach of Evansville University. Walter played in the NBA for 10 seasons for 4 different teams. He played 8 years for the Celtics, where he became a Boston legend. Walter also won an NCAA championship in college at Kentucky. Following his playing career, Walter went on to coach collegiately at Louisville, then in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics. In March 2018, Walter was hired as the Head Coach of Evansville University.
Mackenzy is a Waltham, MA native and NFL veteran who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. Mackenzy, a former Bentley University football player, was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Mackenzy played in over 95 NFL games and started in 48 of them. In college, Mackenzy was an AFCA All-American, 3x ECAC All-Star, 3x First-Team All NE-10 and 2x NE-10 OL of The Year. Mackenzy, has always wanted to come back to his hometown to be involved with different charities and give back to his community.
Patrick is a University of Georgia graduate where he played both football and baseball and was drafted in 1996 by the Florida Marlins and in 2000 by the New England Patriots. Patrick is a 3 time Super Bowl champion, an 8 year NFL veteran and the Patriots’ all-time leading kickoff returner in the playoffs.Patrick is a big supporter of community and youth events and loves to help younger kids learn about the game of football.
A Boston native and graduate of Boston College, Dana was the first round pick (16th overall) of the Seattle SuperSonics in 1989. Barros went on to enjoy a 13-year NBA playing career, including five seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics (1995-2000). Barros’ individual accolades at the NBA level include being voted as an NBA All-Star in 1995 and being crowned as the NBA’s Most Improved Player in the same year. Barros, a graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School and Boston College, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications and Broadcasting.
A native of Brookline, Mass. with tri-citizenship in Haiti, Japan, and the United States, Zachary is the 3rd ever homegrown player signing with the New England Revolution. Zach only 21 years of age, attended Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, and made his professional debut in June 2015. In his young career he has already represented the Haitian national team in international competition and in his 3rd year with the Revolution.
Free is a television personality, radio personality, media mogul and a Boston native. She was the original host of BET Televisions 106 and Park and she has hosted numerous radio shows all around the country. Free attended the Roxbury Center for the Arts at age 11, and has always given back to the community and participated in numerous fundraising causes.
Jamie Young is in his 13th season with the Boston Celtics. He begins his fourth season as an assistant coach after previously serving four seasons as Advanced Scout. Prior to the 2007-08 season, Jamie served as the team’s video coordinator. In this role he was responsible for all the video breakdowns of the Celtic games and Celtics opponent games and distributing this information to the coaching staff. Young graduated from Blackburn College (Carlinville, IL) in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, where he played both basketball and football.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Sam grew up in West Medford where he went to elementary school at the Hervey School and middle school at the Brooks+Hobbs. He was a Varsity Basketball player at Medford High School and followed that up by heading to Emerson College where he played for 4 years. During his college years Sam wrote for SLAM magazine on hoops and also directed the West Medford Mens Summer Basketball League in honor of Brandon Bolden, who passed away while Sam was growing up. Following college, SJNB got his start in the NBA working for the Boston Celtics during their NBA Finals run in 09-10. Since then he spent 8 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves (most recently as a Coaching Associate) and a year with the Atlanta Hawks coaching in their G-League system. Currently, Sam is the Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves (the Minnesota Timberwolves G-League Affiliate). Sam is a big advocate of helping his community and remembering those people who meant a lot to him, which is why he has dedicated himself to developing this yearly Hoops and Hope event.
Andy is a former New York City high school and college basketball player, a former high school coach (at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School) and college scout who loved to play his basketball outside at the park. He is a West Medford resident for over 30 years and in his work life is the executive director of School & Main Institute, Inc. a national nonprofit organization that works with organizations across institutional lines in “uncommon coalitions” to support to at risk youth and the communities in which they live.
Brian is the former President of the West Medford Community Center and current board member who proudly supports the community in which he grew up in. Brian has lived in West Medford his entire life and still does today. As a child he grew up shooting hoops at Dugger park and even earned his nickname of “Ice” because he loved then NBA player George “Iceman” Gervin. Brian is looking forward to bringing the community together in this 1st ever Hoops and Hope event.
Lisa is a long term board member and newly appointed Executive Director of the West Medford Community Center. Lisa, who has years of experience working in non-profits has hit the ground running. Most recently Lisa has been quoted as hoping to turn the Community Center into a “resource for everyone”. Lisa is committed to helping youngsters with new programs based around education, reading, photography and of course athletics (basketball specifically). Lisa is also a proud mom of her son Grant who attends school in West Medford.
Justin (pictured left), who grew up in West Medford is currently in the world of marketing and promotions for an exclusive Boston nightlife company. Justin and founder Sam grew up together and have always been dedicated to giving back to their community. Justin’s family (The Claytons) have roots in West Medford dating back hundreds of years. Justin has been integral in helping to secure and manage all of the celebrity coaches during their time at Hoops and Hope.
Loring (pictured right) moved to West Medford at the age of 7 and has been living there ever since. For the last 3 years Loring has managed the summer recreational basketball tournaments and clinics for men, women, boys and girls at Dugger Park. Loring is also on the board of directors at the West Medford Community Center and is chair of the fundraising committee.
Malinda Reagan grew up in Medford attending the Hervey and Hobbs schools in West Medford. Her love of the community brought her back to West Medford in 2014 when she took on her professional role as Branch Manager for the West Medford Office of Brookline Bank. It was through that role where she became involved with the West Medford Community Center, curently serving on the WMCC Board of Directors as Board Treasurer. She is proud to support the great work done by the WMCC, made possible in large part by amazing events like Hoops and Hope! Malinda and her husband reside in Haverhill, MA, but she loves Medford so much she comes back every day.
Trent, who was born in Boston and grew up in West Medford in the 80’s and 90’s is a neighborhood fixture in the West Medford community. The former school resource and D.A.R.E. officer is currently a Malden police sergeant in the patrol division and has been with the department for over 29 years. Trents WMCC roots run deep as his first ever job was at the West Medford Community Center as a teen.Trent, also helped to run (along with Sam and Loring) the West Medford Brandon Bolden summer basketball league in the late 2000’s. Trent loves to give back to his community and has been integral in overseeing the basketball portions of Hoops and Hope.
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