Today we’d like to introduce you to Reggie Cummings Jr.
Hi Reggie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story started in Augusta, GA at Belle Terrace Community Center where I fell in love with the game of basketball. Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to be a basketball player and a coach. Basketball helped me find my voice and my sense of belonging. As a young man, I was always looking for a mentor or someone to grab me up and help me to work on my craft to get me to the next level of athletics. That need drove me to start training and volunteer coaching at the local boys and girls clubs and recreation centers once I was done playing college basketball. I wanted to be able to use the lessons I learned and help the next generation of athletes be successful on and off the court. Since then, we have been able to help several athletes go on to play collegiate basketball and play professionally. But most importantly they have become productive citizens and not products of their environment.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth at all but the journey has certainly been worth it. I would not change a thing about the process. Our organization has been blessed with so many opportunities even after huge setbacks. At one point, we were training over 70 kids a week through our basketball programs and our entrepreneurial courses. Shortly after our community was growing, we were told that we could not train at that location any longer. Trying to stay positive and make sure that the kids were still getting quality training I choose to train outdoors until we could find another location. While training outdoors, I was able to learn new skills that helped with our speed and conditioning program, so I say it was a blessing in disguise. Once we found another location, our numbers had dropped due to the distance for most parents to drive and the hours that we were allowed to be in the facility. On this journey, we have been talked down on, kicked out of facilities, relocated several times, but the faith in our abilities to reach the youth and being faithful over a few have kept us going. #processB4success
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Swoops Hoops Foundation?
Swoops Hoops was established in 2014, we focus on four main areas: basketball training, education/health, mentorship, and community concern. Each of these areas are approached with basketball being our driving tool. We have and will continue to develop programs that will have a positive effect on the communities that we serve
Swoops Hoops foundation is an organization developed to reach our community through basketball. The organization is created with the desire to mentor our youth, strengthen, as well as educate our community.
We are bringing positive and lasting change to our community through dynamic programming and a commitment to social responsibility in the areas of education, wellness, life skills and the fight against hunger.
We specialize in training youth in basketball with personalized training and not just a cookie-cutter program that kids just have to play and learn our way. We try to find the youths strengths and weaknesses and focus on those areas so that they can continue to grow with the game and evolve accordingly. We try to provide access to new information and skills to help our athletes thrive.
What sets us apart is our team. We all have strengths and weaknesses, but we all know our roles and we communicate well with each other. We try to offer personalized training even during our group training sessions. We know that every player is not the same, so we try to customize our training to the individual and their individual needs/goals.
I am most proud brand-wise when those who have trained with us go off to school or to play professionally and they come back during their off-season to help the next group of youth who are trying to follow in their footsteps.
What I want readers to know is that you should follow your dreams and not chase money. The success is in your dream and your God-given abilities. Do not conform who you are or whose you are to fit in this world. Outside of that, I would want them to know that we are available for training in several areas. We would love to connect with other skills trainers or college coaches to advance our programs. We will be hosting our annual Top 20 all area high school showcase this summer 2023 and we would love to have a sold-out crowd to watch these kids put on a show.
How do you define success?
Success to me simply is being able to get up every day and do what you love and be surrounded by people you love. There is no dollar amount you can place on that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.swoopshoops.org
- Instagram: @Swoops_Hoops2
- Facebook: Swoops Hoops
- Youtube: SwoopsEnt
Image Credits
David Beard Michael Stephenson Christian Nobles
