Building a community through basketball

Former Cougar basketball player gives back to underprivileged youth

Jerad Kozey

Contributor 

Adam Huffman has always been a team player.  During his time as a forward for the University of Regina Cougars Basketball team he wasn’t known for shooting three pointers, or gravity defying dunks, it was his ability to make the right play. Whether it came from interior passing, opportunistic scoring, or laying his body on the line to draw a charging call, it seems that Huffman was always willing to do what he needed to bring a team together as a collective unit.  

After his graduation, Huffman focused his unrelenting team mentality into a career.  Huffman is the founder of Doggpound Basketball Academy; an organization that provides opportunities for elementary and high school students to play basketball. 

Although he has done a remarkable job to give children from around the city a safe and fun environment to sharpen their skills, it is Huffman’s work behind the scene that is truly impressive.  

Prior to creating DBA; Huffman worked for the inner city youth program Sports Venture. During his time at Sports Venture, Huffman was a huge factor in developing the Ehrlo basketball league, which provides a positive environment for less fortunate children to learn basketball.  

Although he has since left Sports Venture, Huffman still spends countless hours working with the Ehrlo Basketball league, despite working at Scott Collegiate, and Glen Carren Community Centre at the same time.

“When I quit at Sports Venture I realized that no one could maintain the level I had brought the program to, so I had to stay on.”

Amazingly enough, Huffman`s commitment to youth basketball extends even further. Doggpound Basketball Academy continues to bring the under privileged youth a better basketball experience by allowing them to participate, for free. Huffman opens his doors and regularly waives his fees in order to allow children to take part.

“These kids that don’t come from money and aren’t put into basketball at a young age, they grow up and the only reason they are playing is for the love of the game. We need to bring that attitude to those of opportunity because that love is important. They are being combined at Doggpound, and I’m watching people from all walks of life in this city that would never otherwise meet each other on the same basketball court. This is what I love the most about my job, watching this brand or company, whatever you want to call, it becoming a family.”

"As our province grows and continues to diversify I would like to see basketball be one of the corner stones that keeps us together." – Adam Huffman

Instead of charging the families money for his time, Huffman`s has a mentorship program  in place so that the players who are benefiting from his generosity are giving it right back to the community.  

“The mentorship program provides those that can’t afford the services I am providing a chance to give directly back to what they have received.  This not only benefits the little children being taught by the older kids but also the older ones; opening their eyes through mentoring.”

If all of this wasn’t enough, Huffman also transports the many of the children to and from his basketball camps, again, free of charge. 

At the moment, Huffman is trying to offer summer tournament opportunities for the kids that would allow them to continue playing basketball. 

“BSI had an under-seventeen basketball tournament; out of the six teams in the men’s division four were from Doggpound."

For Huffman, it’s all about breaking down barriers and levelling the playing field.

“As our province grows and continues to diversify, I would like to see basketball be one of the corner stones that keeps us together, and grows along with it.”