Former NBA forward Sharone Wright has opened the 478 Hoops Youth Basketball Camp in Macon, Georgia, a program that pairs elite basketball instruction with lessons in leadership and life skills.
The week‑long camp, held at a local recreation center, welcomes children from public schools, foster homes, the Department of Family and Children Services, Boys & Girls Clubs and private academies, aiming to bridge social divides through sport.
Wright, who spent his professional career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves, says the initiative is a way to give back to the community that raised him, echoing the values his mother instilled when they launched the project after his retirement.
Building Confidence On and Off the Court
Beyond dribbling and shooting, the curriculum includes financial literacy workshops, mentorship sessions and teamwork exercises designed to prepare participants for future academic and professional challenges.
Organizers say the camp’s ultimate goal is to foster character development, boost self‑esteem and open pathways to higher education and careers, ensuring that the benefits of the program extend far beyond the hardwood.