"Hoops4Health gave our athlete a place to both "show and grow." There are a lot of teams that give kids a way to be seen, but few that work on getting better as a player, a teammate, and competitor." - Parents of Griffin Ryan - New Trier - Penn (D1)
The Hoops4Heath coaches do an outstanding job at all levels. Their focus is player development, whether it’s with high school players on their 17U National team hoping to play in college, young players new to basketball or any player in between. I would highly recommend Hoops4Health to any parent looking for a development focused basketball program that is focused on their child’s goals and ambitions and that has a proven track record of success. - Jon Van Gorp - Parent of Tyler Can Gorp – New Trier – Williams College (D3)
"Coach Kolton worked relentlessly with us to find the right place academically, socially and athletically for my son. As an unsigned senior (Class of 2017), Brendan matched my son with 20+ college coaches and colleges who were looking for players that worked hard in the classroom, possessed great character and were fundamentally skilled. His work and outreach to all levels -NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCOS - made it possible for us to find the right fit to meet our needs. As the parent of an under recruited student-athlete, Brendan's knowledge of the recruiting process and direct access to college coaches proved to be invaluable. Daily contacts from Brendan and multiple colleges demonstrated his level of commitment and due diligence exercised during the recruitment period. As a result TJ received offers and high interest from over 15 colleges. He ultimately signed a student-athlete contract worth over $56,000 per year with an opportunity to dominate both academically and athletically. " - Parent of Terry Smith Jr . - Curie - Loyola New Orleans (NAIA)
Brendan Kolton has been coaching my son in basketball at Hoops for Health for 3 years. He has been a true role model for not only my son Paul, but for all the boys in his program. Im a hands on dad that also coaches. I have coached in the Northshore Trevians tackle football program and the flag football program for the last 3 years as well. What I have always believed is teaching the boys to be the best version of themselves. I regularly attend practices and all games my son plays at Hoops4Health. What I do see in Brendan is a coach that has true sincerity and passion in what he loves to do, teaching the boys to be the best they can be. From the beginning practice starts to the last whistle, he’s fully engaged at teaching the game of basketball. He comes prepared every day with a positive attitude that is infectious with all players and coaches around him. There are four principles that they stress to his players. Having read the principles he sent to the parents, I was quite pleased so see what that entails. This philosophy covers the mind, nutrition, body, and discipline. Being a parent that believes in physical fitness and nutrition as a way of life, I was curious how Brendan would teach the boys this philosophy. Over the years he has not disappointed, He regularly reminds them the importance of nutrition that is the fuel of the body. He continues to remind them the proper meals to eat on a daily basis, as well as pre game meals. While most coaches end practice after the whistle, its refreshing to see coach Brendan go over things such as proper nutrition or talk about the respect of the game. That brings me to talk about the discipline that Brendan teaches. Brendan teaches to respect the game and respect the discipline it takes to be successful in basketball. I have personally watched my son to take the time to properly feed himself and warm up accordingly before practices. I believe Brendan has had a big effect in this way. Brendan not only talks and stresses the importance of taking care of the body but shows up and sets an example. He comes with incredible energy and his fitness level is still st a very high level. This example fuels the boys to improve in their fitness as well, whether they push harder in sprints or pushing themselves doing extra pushups. Probably the most important thing Brendan teaches is his philosophy of the mental aspect of the game. That is to respect the game of basketball, respect the opponents you play, and respect yourself to be the best version of yourself on the court. Play with full intensity and passion , but also playing with honor and character while on the court. I have come to know Brendan as a person of the highest character, Its been an absolute blessing to have him coach my son and hope he continues to coach for a long time. - Bart Liang - Parent)
Hoops4Health is a great program that focuses on a player’s development to their utmost ability. My son has been playing for Hoops4Health for a while, and Coach Brendan has been nothing but helpful throughout the years. He spent hours helping my son with the college process, and it ultimately paid off as my son is going to college for basketball next year. If you want a program that is honest and hard-working, Hoops4Health will provide those attributes. Coach Brendan still checks on him and helps him with any basketball questions he has. 5-star program! (Marinko Colak - Parent)
This program is the best place for not only basketball skill building but overall athletic development of your child. We have done the 3v3 league, clinics, and seasonal training programs and we see a direct correlation with these programs and the overall growth of our two sons in understanding the game, sportsmanship and building fundamentals to succeed. The coaches are phenomenal and lead with a fair but fun approach. Hoops4Health days are my boys favorite days of the week and I would recommend to anyone who wants to see their child grow and flourish in basketball. (Tracey Fitzgerald, Parent)
Hoops4Health has been a wonderful experience for our son. He is now entering his 3rd season for the Wilmette Wolves and has participated in the 3v3 league for the past 2 years as well. Each program is run very well and I appreciate their reliability and professionalism. They work hard to uphold sportsmanship while still allowing the boys to be aggressive and highly competitive with each other. I'm very impressed with the growth our son has shown under Hoops4Health leadership and we are looking forward to another fantastic season! (Nate Vanderkamp, Parent)
My sons love Hoops4Health! The travel program, 3 on 3 league, skills clinics and summer camps have helped my 3rd grader and 5th grader grow as basketball players while having fun with friends. The coaches focus not only on skills, but also on sportsmanship and teamwork. (Laura Resis, Parent)
"Brendan Kolton is the best Coach that has coached my son DeAndre Heckard. Being a part of Hoops4health family for many years put my son on the map of basketball. Brendan doesn't just teach you the game of basketball but all the fundamentals and skills that is needed to succeed to that next level playing field. He has a big heart and loves each and every player under him. Without Brendan I don't believe DeAndre's name would've been known across the basketball world. He took personal time out to email college coaches, call college coaches, send videos of his games and did highlight videos on his behalf. What I love about Brendan Kolton and the Hoops4health family, he stayed in contact with DeAndre well after his AAU career and high school. He still cares about his well being as well as his education. The Heckard Family will always support and be apart of the Hoops4health Family." Angie Heckard - Mother of DeAndre Heckard who has committed to play Division 1 basketball at Stephen F. Austin University
"Such a GREAT program. This is my son's third year with Hoops4Health and he loves it. We tried it out upon other local families recommendations and I am SO glad we did. The coaching is professional yet friendly, serious yet fun. My son's skills have improved drastically over the years with Hoops4Heath. We've participated their clinics, 3v3 program, skills camps, special event programs and the AAU travel league. I recommend trying it, no matter if your child has played for a while or just picked up a Basketball! They've got you covered!" (Parent)
"My 12 year old son has been involved with various Hoops4Health programs for 3 years now and loves the coaches and the training. Hoops is a great choice! (Daisy Hatsis, Parent)
"This company is amazing with kids. If you want your children to learn and have fun....This is the place. " (Parent)
"This is a great program! My son loves it, and the coaches are excellent. It's a great environment to improve your basketball skills." (Parent)
Hoops4Health is a fun, engaging program with great team spirit, excellent coaches, games that challenge and teach the players a lot.They also offer nutrition and mindfulness tools to incorporate for educating the players. Our son has really enjoyed the program, and continues to grow while playing a sport he loves. (Parent)
"Love this organization! Both my son and daughter play with Hoops4Health and they not only teach the kids strong basketball skills, but they also insist on a collaborative, team-oriented approach. It's been a great way to improve in basketball and make some friends from other towns." (Parent)
"Thanks for all you do Brendan and staff. Playing for Hoops4Health was a fantastic experience for my son. You guys run a 1st class organization." (Barlow Alleruzzo III, Parent)
"At Hoops4Health, the owners and the coaches care about the children as much as the game. Their passion for the children and the game shines through the way they coach and interact. This organization instills in the kids how to care about each other, how to play as a team and to play hard whether they are winning or losing. My son has grown so much as a player and as a person since joining Hoops4Health." (Tami Gilbert, Parent)
"My son loves the winter travel league. Hoops4Health employs very skilled and knowledgeable coaches who teach the fundamentals of basketball. The tournaments are fun and the distance you have to travel is at most an hour, usually less. They also have an impressive uniform package with includes warm up shirt and practice shirt and a backpack." (Elizabeth Davies, Parent)
"Hoops for Health has been great for my sons development in his basketball skills and, more importantly, his learning of how to play the game correctly. The coaches develop players in all aspects of the game to become an all around better player, teammate and person." (Alex Erickson, Parent)
"Our 6th grader has participated in Hoops4Health programs the past 3 years and we think it is a great organization. We have participated in travel AAU programs, clinics and the 3 on 3 league. Consistently, the coaches have been great. They are knowledgeable and passionate about coaching youth basketball and set a great example for the kids by teaching and displaying great sportsmanship. We have observed our child improve his individual and team skills and have a great time doing it. We strongly recommend the Hoops4Health program to anyone with a child that enjoys basketball." (Mike Bishop, Parent)
"Such a GREAT program. This is my son's third year with Hoops4Health and he loves it. We tried it out upon other local families recommendations and I am SO glad we did. The coaching is professional yet friendly, serious yet fun. My son's skills have improved drastically over the years with Hoops4Heath. We've participated their clinics, 3v3 program, skills camps, special event programs and the AAU travel league. I recommend trying it, no matter if your child has played for a while or just picked up a Basketball! They've got you covered!" (Casey Brown, Parent)
"We were very happy with this program. My son had some great coaching and never complained about going to practice. His skills really improved." (Angi Mell, Parent)
"My 12 year old son has been involved with various Hoops4Health programs for 3 years now and loves the coaches and the training. Hoops is a great choice!"
"Hoops4Health is a great mentoring and training program for student athletes seeking to develop in basketball athletics. The coaches are passionate about developing student athletes for college readiness by ensuring students compete at the appropriate level and in highly exposed tournaments My son Jeremiah (J.C.) trained and played on both local and national teams throughout the high school. J.C. learned valuable skill building techniques, which contributed to his overall athleticism, competitiveness, and confidence in playing the sport. Through Hoops training and exposure, J.C. learned over $80K in academic scholarships and an opportunity to play college basketball at Manchester University. Thanks to Coach Brendan & the entire coaching staff for your leadership and guidance." Tora Swint. Mother of Jeremiah Swint.