The 2025 Hoops in the Hood summer season celebrated its final game on August 8th, as more than 400 youth from 14 neighborhoods converged at Stanton Park for the program’s 19th Annual Citywide Championship, a high-energy tournament that capped off a summer of basketball, community connection, and youth leadership.  Organized by LISC and supported by State Farm®, Hoops in the Hood is a neighborhood-based sports initiative that transforms public spaces into platforms for growth and connection. Throughout the summer, hundreds of youth participated in weekly games and activities that built confidence, sparked friendships, and created new opportunities on and off the court. Now in its 19th season, Hoops in the Hood has reached more than 30,000 young people across Chicago. The games feature bracket-style matchups, music, family activities, and reflections from former participants who now serve as mentors and staff. With cheering crowds, DJ sets, and teams representing communities from across the city, the championship embodied what Hoops in the Hood is all about joy, safety, and shared pride in the neighborhoods youth call home. For more information, visit www.lisc.org/chicago

Photo Credit: LISC