ABOUT HOOPSTERS | Hoopsters Live

Building a better world one player at a time.

Colorado Hoopsters is a non-profit, which focuses on providing opportunities to

kids through competitive basketball and prepares for academic success.

Hope

Hope through Hoops

The Colorado Hoopsters provide student-athletes the opportunity to play competitive basketball. We teach the importance of fundamentals, competition, perseverance, and goal setting. It's not about winning and losing. It's about preparing yourself for the competition and maximizing your efforts. We give kids hope.

Attitude + Effort = Outcome

Academics

College Readiness

The Colorado Hoopsters provides student-athletes with access to academic support, educational guidance and enrichment activities. Furthermore the Colorado Hoopsters help student-athletes with college and NCAA preparation and readiness for college graduation. We support all schools.

College graduation is our goal!

Leadership

Community Engagement

The Colorado Hoopsters host an Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Give Away, Bike Give Away and Clothes Give Away. Every student-athlete must participate in our community engagement activities. Furthermore every student-athlete attends monthly leadership and character education classes.

We are global leaders!

Our Relentless Focus

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Colorado Hoopsters is to provide an educational, athletic and positive life altering experience through competitive basketball.

Opportunity

The Colorado Hoopsters provide opportunities for student-athletes to grow as individuals.

Basketball provides an excellent platform to teach key life skills such as leadership, discipline, promote teamwork, perseverance, healthy living and goal setting.

Academics

The Colorado Hoopsters provide academic support, educational guidance, NCAA guidance and college readiness preparation to student-athletes.

Community Leadership

The Colorado Hoopsters host annual community events such as a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Give Away, Build-A-Bike Give-Away, Christmas Toy Drive and Clothes Drive to help people and communities in need.

Team Costs

The reality is that it remains financially out of reach for many qualified and deserving youth to participate in competitive sports. Therefore, the Hoopsters, are committed to providing opportunities for young athletes to develop and play competitive sports while eliminating the financial barriers.

We hope you appreciate our mission, vision and philosophy and join us in our journey. The Colorado Hoopsters have had the same student-athlete driven mission for over 30 years. Today, the Colorado Hoopsters have helped thousands of student-athletes maximize their basketball potential, achieve academic success and become leaders in the world.

We are CHAMPIONS!

Meet the Staff

Gabe Trujillo

Executive Director/ Coach

Coach Gabe Trujillo, an original Harvey Park Hoopster, has been coaching and teaching for more than 20 years. Coach Gabe played college and professional basketball. Coach Gabe has been a teacher, high school coach (Colorado Academy, Lincoln, Denver North and Denver West High Schools), Athletic Director (Lincoln and Montbello High School) and Principal (Sheridan High School and Manny Martinez Middle School). "I have spent my entire life working with kids. There is nothing I would rather do." Coach Gabe is married to his wife Ellena and has 2 kids Alexei and Alicia who are Hoopsters!

Dante Ramos

Director of Accounting/ Coach

Coach Dante is a father of three (Jordan, Mariah & Bella) and is married to his supportive wife Tiffany. Mariah and Bella are Hoopsters. Dante has coached both boys and girls basketball for fifteen years. Coach Dante is currently an Assistant Coach at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Colorado. Coach Dante brings an energy and discipline from his playing days. Dante is a fierce competitor but lives by the phrase "whatever we do it must be for the kids." Coach Dante lives, eats and breathes basketball. If you need to find the Ramos family you can find them on a basketball court somewhere.

Chuck Garcia

Director of Player Development/ Coach

Coach Chuck Garcia has been coaching for the past 5 years. Coach Chuck started playing basketball in the recreation center and rose to prominence in high school. Coach Chuck is a proud graduate of Denver West High School and University of Colorado at Denver. After serving and playing for the Marines, Coach Chuck found his passion in working with kids. Coach Chuck loves working with youth to help them become better basketball players but most importantly better people. Coach Chuck has 4 daughters, all of them are Hoopsters, and is married to his lovely wife Ruby of 17 years.

Kaili Valdez

Coach

Coach Kaili Valdez "Coach V" has been coaching since 2003 at

Rock Canyon High School, Mullen High School, and Englewood High School. Coach V currently serves as the Junior High Girls Basketball Head Coach at Littleton Preparatory Charter School. Although winning is always rewarding, Coach V finds deep passion in teaching meaningful life lessons through the game of basketball and enjoys establishing purposeful relationships with her athletes that inform a foundation for students to apply in all aspects of their lives, as learners, athletes, and engaged people in the world. Coach V has 2 little ballers VJ and Max who love playing basketball.

Tiffany Ramos

Director of Parent Engagement

Tiffany has been involved organizing parents for the past 15 years. Tiffany has 3 children (Jordan, Mariah and Bela) who are all athletes. TIffany has been influential in creating communication, news letters and community connections.

Ellena Trujillo

Secretary/ Photos/ Videos

Ellena has been involved in athletics administration for the 5 years. Ellena has 2 daughters (Alexei and Alicia) that play competitive volleyball and basketball. Ellena is also the team photographer and videographer.

Steve Fendry

Consultant/ Coach

Coach Steve Fendry has been coaching hoops for more than 20 years. Coach Steve was a high school All-American, college All-American and professional basketball player. Coach Fendry is a Hall of Fame Athlete at Western State University. He started coaching the Hoopsters in 2001. Coach Fendry won 3 state high school championships as a high school coach at Mullen high School in Denver, Colorado. Coach Fendry is currently teaching and coaching at Thunder Ridge High School. You can find Steve in a gym somewhere working with kids.

Gary Rhoades

Founder/ Consultant/ Coach

Gary Rhoades is the Founder of the Harvey Park Hoopsters and the Colorado Hoopsters. Gary started coaching youth at several Denver Parks and Recreation Centers including Harvey Park Recreation Center. Gary gathered a group of kids and conducted skill and drill sessions year round. During this time Gary assembled teams to play across the city and state. Eventually the Colorado Hoopsters formed and started competing on a national level. Gary was a high school and college All- American at Denver West High School and Colorado State University. Gary is the father of Meschak Rhoades, former Colorado Hoopster and Regis University star, and husband to Coach Glenda Rhoades.

Bob Caton

Consultant/ Coach

Bob Caton is the current Head Boy's Basketball Coach at Mullen High School. Bob has served as an advisor, coach, mentor and friend of the Colorado Hoopsters for the past 30 years. Bob has coached many kids and teams across the state of Colorado. Coach Bob Caton is committed to making kids better basketball players and people in the world. Coach Caton is one of the winningest coaches in Colorado State history and is in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Coach Caton is the father of 3 former athletes Ali, Jaime and Robbie. Coach is married to his beautiful wife Linda who is always at the game. Coach Caton is also grandfather to Colorado Hoopster Jaden.

Give us a call or send us an email

Gabe Trujillo

720-338-5762