FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the Kentucky National Guard’s Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy at Fort Knox participated in the Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camp Sept. 15, which was coordinated by Operation UNITE.
The camp, which highlights the dangers of substance abuse, was led by University of Kentucky graduate and member of the school’s 2011-12 National Championship winning basketball team Jarrod Polson.
“In life, just like in basketball, you have to be in the right spot at the right time,” said Polson. He stressed to the cadets they have a choice to stay away from things that keep them from succeeding and to instead be where they need to be.
Polson, who is now a financial planner and married with two children, has been volunteering to lead camps like this since 2017.
This week’s camp marks the first time the Shoot Hoops Not Drugs program has come in person to Fort Knox since it began 15 years ago. The camp was offered virtually last year due to the pandemic. This year, 64 cadets were able to interact with Polson directly on the court.
During the camp, Polson taught the cadets the basics of dribbling, passing and shooting basketballs, and then finished the evening with a free throw competition. One of the finalists, 16-year-old Lindsey McIntosh, said she attributed her success to what she’s learned from attending Bluegrass.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone,” said McIntosh. “Doing stuff like this [camp] is not something I’d want to do, but since being here and being pushed out of my shell a little bit, I have the confidence to do it.”
While the camp was a one-day event which concluded with a hot dog cookout provided by volunteers from Operation UNITE – a regional anti-drug initiative – the ChalleNGe academy is a full 22-week residential program that also provides schooling. McIntosh said she’s proud of all she’s achieved since arriving in June.
“I’m already caught up in all my classes,” said McIntosh. “I’m a junior, and I’ve been able to move through my classes pretty fast, so I might be able to graduate as a senior when I get out.”
Academy director Troy Hampton explained Bluegrass is one of two National Guard-managed facilities in the state that helps teens who are deemed “at risk” and having problems at home, school or within the judicial system.
“It’s built on eight core components [such as] life skills, education, health and hygiene,” said Hampton. “We get kids here who have been abused, have drug issues and truancy issues from all over the state.”
Hampton said Bluegrass is set up to accommodate up to 150 cadets. However, they’ve kept the number of participants lower due to COVID. Overall, he said, the teens who go through the program do very well.
“We generally have an 80-82% success rate,” said Hampton. “Once they leave here, they don’t go to jail — they go to school, they go into the military or they get a job. If they can do one of those three or four things, that’s a success. That’s all I care about.”
According to Hampton, once cadets complete the in-residence portion of the program at the facility, they receive follow-up mentoring for an additional year. While in the academy, unique experiences like Shoot Hoops Not Drugs can give them an extra boost toward success.
“If we can touch just a few of these kids with this program and show them another good role model, which most of these kids don’t have,” said Hampton, “it can help get their minds focused on a healthier lifestyle.”
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