Heading up the Hoops on Mission organization, founder Dwayne Jackson, has brought his blend of basketball, mentorship and faith to the Southern Tier for a few years now, and is looking to make a larger and longer impact for the area.

“We’re hosting a two-day clinic here, in partnership with Trinity Church (Frewsburg),” Jackson said. “We blend basketball, mentorship and Christ to reach the next generation of kids.”

Additionally, the clinic featured some local present and past professional basketball players from the Jamestown Jackals basketball team who led a hand during the event.

“We had Bernard Edwards, Daniel Mulamba, Donathan Daniels and Zakeem ‘the dream’ Davis,” volunteering their time and helping out,” said Kayla Crosby, the owner and proprietor of the Jamestown Jackals. “It’s an honor and a privilege for us to support Dwayne Jackson and his program.”

While the initial numbers of children who registered for the event was a little discouraging, the numbers that actually showed up during the two-day event blew the staff’s minds away.

“We only had eight kids signed up for the Friday program,” said Crosby. “The gym is filled with kids – again – and it’s packed.

All in all, more than 180 kids participated during the two-day event, reported a volunteer from Trinity Church.

Jackson added that other local volunteer coaches and support staff pulled together to make sure the event went off without a hitch.

“We had Tom Nelson (former high school basketball coach) and his son helping out and other church staff that all pulled together to make sure this event ran smoothly – I couldn’t have pulled this off without all their support,” he said.

Jackson’s Hoops on Mission organization provides mentorship, leadership, and resources. While focused on Lee County, Florida, Jackson said he’d like to do more work in Chautauqua County. For more information about Hoops on Mission or to make a denotation visit hoopsonmission.org, or email hoopsonmission@gmail.com.

“I’d really like to try and get a permanent presence up here in Western, New York,” said Jackson. “Its something that’s in the works. Right now we’re primarily based in South Western Florida – but we’ll go where ever the Lord leads us.”