OUR PROGRAM
The Hoops for Youth Foundation, Inc (HFYF) has been committed to positively shaping the lives of Mansfield-area youth. Founded in 2003 and powered entirely by volunteers, our nonprofit organization exists for one purpose: to give young people the tools they need to succeed on and off the basketball court.
HFYF serves youth ages 6-15 through a structured basketball program that emphasizes far more than athletic skill. We use the game of basketball as a teaching platform for leadership, discipline, accountability, sportsmanship, education and positive decision-making-skills that last a lifetime.
What makes Hoops for Youth unique is our intentional life-skills curriculum. Each week, participants complete an assignment tied to one of our core values. Game participation is earned through responsibility and effort. After each game, players, parents/guardians, coaches and volunteers come together to reflect on how these lessons were applied to real-life situations. The shared experience reinforces accountability, strengthens families, and builds confident, motivated young leaders.
*Meet the Coach, team photo and parent meeting Tuesday, May 26th,2026 6:00pm @ Malabar Intermediate
• League start May 28th, 2026 – June 27th , 2026
• All games played Thursday evenings at Malabar Intermediate
Malabar
May 28, 2026
Court 1 Court 2
5:30pm Rookie Girls Rookie Girls
6:00pm Cavaliers v Rockets-R Magic v Spurs-R
6:40pm Cavs v Pistons-P Lakers v Thunder-P
7:20pm Celtics v Knicks-AS Timberwolves v TrailBlazers-AS
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
Each week, players will receive an assignment corresponding to one of our Hoops For Youth core values (Teamwork, Respect, Discipline, Education & Fun). Game participation is dependent upon completion of each assignment. After each game, we gather as a group (players, parents/guardians and coaches/volunteers) to discuss the assignment and how participants incorporated what they learned into their daily lives.
WORKSHOPS
The program highlights special guest speakers from the community who speak to a variety of topics including the importance of excellence in education and how to stay away from negative peer pressure which can lead to the use of drugs and alcohol or other negative factors that decrease successful living on and off the basketball courts.
The Hoops For Youth program culminates in a single elimination tournament on Saturday, June 27, 2026 TBA. Each program participant will receive a certificate for completing the program. The winning team in the tournament will also be awarded the championship trophy.
GET INVOLVED
BECOME A COACH
Please fill out the information below if you would like to be considered for coaching a Hoops for Youth basketball team for the HFY program. The 2026 season starts May 28th runs through June 27.
Responsibilities Include:
- Communication with players
- Teaching appropriate basketball skills and sportsmanship based on HFY grade level guidelines.
- Provide supportive, learning, and fun experience for all kids
BECOME A MENTOR
Mentoring provides an additional layer of support for a HFY participant as they go through challenging life developments, including dealing with stressful changes at home or transitioning into adulthood. The purpose of the MFY Mentor program is to create structured mentor-mentee relationships in order to give participants the tools and support they need to deal effectively with these many pressures.
Mentoring inherently involves personal change and growth. The supportive, healthy relationships that develop through mutual respect for different points of view and the different stages in a career pathway can last a lifetime.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Hoops for Youth is so blessed by the service of volunteers who help ensure that our programs run smoothly and soundly. Scorekeepers, player registration, player assignment check in – there are so many different volunteer opportunities available across our program offerings!
OUR HISTORY
Hoops For Youth is a non-profit youth organization established in 2003. We believe basketball is more than just a sport. It is a vehicle to support and empower our youth to become engaged members of our community. It’s a collaborative space for fostering experiences that will enable players to make positive choices in daily life and pave the way for future successes.
Rondrea McCruter, Co-Founder
Rondrea, is a product of Mansfield Malabar HS where his team reached the Division 2 State final four. He was named 2nd team Ohio Heartland Conference and named to Mansfield North-South All Star team. He then went on to play SG for Columbus State helping team reach the Regional NJCAA Tournament.
Rondrea attended Columbus State where he earned a degree in Business Marketing
Rondrea has 15 years of experience coaching (assistant) for Ohio’s Top AAU programs- All-Ohio, Ohio Basketball Club (OBC) and King James Shooting Stars, he had the privilege of coaching several Division I, II, III players. In 2006 he joined Ohio Sports Plus as League Director of Basketball.
In 2003 along with his childhood friend Jeff McCoy, they formed Hoops For Youth, a youth mentoring program that uses basketball as a vehicle to teach attributes such as sportsmanship, leadership, academics and teamwork to Mansfield area youth.
Rondrea continues to serve as a mentor to many of the athletes he has coached throughout the years, assisting them in the college recruitment process.
Jeffrey L. McCoy, Co-Founder
Jeff is a 1989 graduate form Mansfield Malabar High School, where he met his wife of 14 years Amanda McCoy. Jeff also lettered in Football, Basketball and Baseball. After graduation, Jeff joined the United States Navy and served from 1989 to June of 1992 actively. Jeff is father of two, Dryden and Lennon.
Jeff attended Ashford University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science.
Jeff’s love for working with kids has grown from his days of working in the Mansfield City School system as a Job Coach, to his time spent at the Mansfield Area Y as the Teen Outreach and Youth Sports Director. During this time Jeff and Rondrea co-founded Hoops for Youth.
Jeff has been the assistant basketball coach at Mansfield Senior High for the past 20 years where he has been a part of many teams that have enjoyed great success. Two State Final Four appearances, two 1,000 pt. scorers, and a NBA second round Draft pick.
Jeff and his family now reside in Worthington, Ohio and he is now employed by , The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
Jr. NBA, Partnership
The Jr. NBA is the official youth basketball participation program of the NBA. The Jr. NBA includes a free, membership-based program for existing youth basketball leagues/organizations. The membership is to help encourage and support youth basketball participation at the grassroots level and improve the overall youth basketball experience for all participants. The Jr. NBA aims to develop a lifelong passion for the game of basketball in boys and girls ages 6-15 by teaching them the fundamentals of the sport while instilling core values including respect and sportsmanship.
Title Sponsor
Thank you to our Sponsors
Russell and Mary Gimbel Foundation
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Healing Hearts Counseling Center
Altrusa International
Gorman Rupp
Providence Baptist Church
Belle & Webb LLC
Dan Lew Exchange – DLX
Tea Talk with Teana Sykes
Amvets Post #26
Mighty Fruit Trucking
Jr.NBA
Elite Service Entreprise
Beautiful Mind126
HeroUSA
MIG
Gionino’s Pizza
Mid-Ohio Trophy
Maxium Apparel Printing
CONTACT
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any concern or question.
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any questions please get in touch.