about us

Hoop connection Basketball is an organization that affords youth from all backgrounds the opportunity to build life and basketball skills in a fun and exciting way that celebrate diversity. The late Cassandra Roland was the founder and director of Hoop Connection. Hoop Connection Basketball was a mainstay in the Fort-Greene/Clinton Hills neighborhoods since its conception in 1984. Cassandra created an opportunity for children who loved basketball but was never able to play in an organized arena. The Ronald Edmonds Learning Center (P.S. 113) located on DeKalb Avenue between Adelphi and Carlton Avenues was the original home of Hoop Connection. In the later part, P.S 20 the Clinton Hills School, right down the block from P.S 113 became the home of Hoop Connection Basketball Organization. Sandra as she was known took kids off the streets and gave them a platform to showcase their talents and flourish. She nurtured talents and gave many opportunities to the children that were serious about basketball. Sandra taught kids on and off the courts. She used basketball to teach valuable life lessons. She focused on self- assurance, discipline and structure. Hoop Connection provides an outlet for children and their families to be part of an organization which can impact and become instrumental to their lives.Casaandra Roland produced many notable alumni’s of Hoop Connection. Moses Scurry played for the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. He was part of the UNLV team that won the 1990 NCAA basketball championship, played for Hoop Connection in his earlier years. Gerald King at Hofstra University, whose brother is Bernard King also played in Hoop Connection. Eric Leslie and Tony Evans who played at Rhode Island University were also alumni’s of Hoop Connection. The late Conrad McRae a.k.a McNasty a Brooklyn Tech High School and Syracuse University star, who had success overseas and was selected by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1993 NBA draft was nurtured at Hoop Connection. Ed “Booger” Smith and Epiphany Prince with the New York Liberty were also notable Hoop Connection alumni’s.

As years moved on in the 80’s and the 90’s Hoop Connection grew large. Cassandra sought out sponsors for Hoop Connection. Some of the sponsors at that time included, Brooklyn Sporting Goods, Ernie’s Cleaners, The Hill, T&T Food Market, United Brooklyn Basketball Association, Visions Video Gallery, and filmmaker Spike Lee. Cassandra took Hoop Connection to the next level with sponsors. Hoop Connection became well known in Brooklyn and other boroughs as well. In 1987 Brooklyn Community leaders Ruth Payne (Bk stompers and Jammin Jumpers), Betty Cooper (Institutional Church Children’s Choir and Hot Steppers), and Cassandra Roland (U.B.B.A and Hoop Connection) joined forces and created the nonprofit organization called Families United. Families United brought unified diversity to the youth in the community. Ruth Payne worked with young girls with the Jammin Jumpers double-Dutch team. She worked with the young boys with the BK stompers basketball team as well. Betty Cooper also had a double- Dutch team called the Hot Steppers, but the Institutional Church children’s Choir made a name for themselves throughout the borough and beyond. Cassandra worked with young boys and girls with U.B.B.A and Hoop Connection. This collective effort brought Families United to the forefront of the community as a diverse organization that loves to help children.

Families United became the umbrella that unified the different organizations for the greater good of the children and community. Cassandra’s vision of helping children in all aspects of life was coming to fruition. Unfortunately in 1998 Cassandra Roland passed away. Cassandra was able to accomplish her goals and see her vision play out. Ruth Payne and Families United took on the responsibility of keeping Cassandra’s legacy alive. With new sponsors like JMH Development, Silverback Development, DBS Consulting, and A.R.T Untitled, Cassandra’s legacy is alive and Hoop Connection Basketball is revived. The organization becomes big brothers to the children by mentoring them, helping with personal problems, school work etc. Focusing on self- assurance, discipline and structure, was Cassandra’s vision. Hoop Connection Basketball Main goal is to prepare the children for college and help them become upstanding citizens through basketball, which is Cassandra Roland’s vision.