SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—Michael Jordan. Bob Knight. Bailey Finn. What do these athletes have in common? They all have their names permanently inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame—Michael Jordan as an NBA champion, Bob Knight as a successful college coach, and Bailey Finn as a 2014 Elks Hoop Shoot Champion.
This weekend, 72 national finalists are heading to Springfield, Massachusetts, to compete in the 2015 Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals. On Friday evening, they will attend a special welcome banquet on Center Court at the Hall of Fame and have the opportunity to tour the museum. By claiming a Hoop Shoot national title, the winner will have his or her name inscribed in the Hall among the legendary greats of the game.
The 43rd annual Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals will take place on April 18 at Western New England University. The Hoop Shoot season began last fall with 8- to 13-year-olds from across the country vying to sink the most of 25 free throws at their Elks Lodge contests. After advancing through Lodge, district, state and regional contests, the 72 finalists arrived in Springfield this week, ready to toe the line for their final 25 shots. But, the contest is about much more than those 25 shots.
“It teaches them several things, the first being hard work,” says Kim Finn, Bailey’s mother. “And it helps them in school where they have to be prepared and study. They know if they want to do well, they have to prepare for it.”
The Hoop Shoot National Finals begin at 9:45 a.m. Eastern Time on April 18. If you can’t get to the gym on Saturday, you can follow the action from home. Get live updates from the foul line by using the Elks’ online shot tracker and following on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #HoopShoot.
“I’ve always been impressed with the fact that it’s all about the kids,” says National Finals Coordinator and member of Springfield, Mass., Lodge No. 61 Buddy Avezzie. “When you think about it, the free-throw percentages of these kids is truly amazing. They are right up there with some of the best players in the NBA!!”
Through the Elks Hoop Shoot, the Elks National Foundation—the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks—offers youth the opportunity to engage in healthy competition, connect with their families and community, and succeed both on and off the court. Visit www.elks.org/hoopshoot for details. If you have questions about the Hoop Shoot, please contact the Elks National Foundation by emailing [email protected] or calling 773/755-4758.
