Officer White helps kids stay on the right path—by playing basketball!

When police officer Bobby White responded to a noise complaint, he discovered teens playing street basketball. Instead of cracking down on the kids, he joined the game!

Lucky shot!” 15-year- old Tyree Thomas called as the basketball swished through the makeshift net on his Gainesville, Florida, street.

Just then, Officer Bobby White—responding to a report of a noise disturbance— stepped out of his cruiser.

Tyree and his friends froze. But Bobby didn’t chastise them. They’re just kids being kids, he thought.

Instead, the nine-year police veteran flashed a smile.

“I don’t know who called, but just try to keep it down,” he said calmly. Then, with a wink, he grabbed the ball—and sunk a shot!

At first, the boys were wary. Soon, though, they joined Officer White chasing rebounds.

“I gotta go . . . but next time I’m bringing backup,” he chuckled, wondering if his dashcam had caught his awesome play.

In fact, it had—and when the department’s public information officer saw it, he posted the video to their Facebook page with the hashtag #Hoops Notcrime.

It wasn’t long before the video went viral, reaching 17 million people around the world! Soon, Bobby—now known as “the basketball cop”—was receiving donations of basketballs and portable hoops to give to other kids. And as promised, a few weeks later, he returned to Tyree’s neighborhood—with a very special “player” who had seen the video online and asked to join his “team.”

“Told you guys we’d be back!” Officer White announced. And then the surprise guest emerged. “It’s Shaq!” the kids marveled. “You’re huge!” one teen exclaimed, staring up at 7'1" NBA superstar Shaquille O’neal, who leaned down—waaay down—for a hug.

“I grew up just like this,” Shaq admitted.

“Me, too,” Officer White nodded.

In fact, Officer White’s father had never been around; his mom had been addicted to drugs. But he’d always admired police officers and proudly became one himself.

After the game, Officer White enthusiastically joined in as Shaq led the teens in an affi rmation: “I will become whatever I want to be.”

Still, Bobby realized: Kids need someone to look up to, someone who will always be there. Maybe I can be that person. And he was inspired to start a Gofundme campaign to send “HoopsNotcrime” sports equipment to at-risk kids.

Getting permission from Tyree’s mom, he showed up with a construction crew— who created a 25' by 30' court in Tyree’s backyard!

“This is for us?!” the kids marveled as Bobby and his own teenage son and daughter installed a donated professional glass backboard.

“Way back here, we won’t get so many noise complaints,” Bobby grinned.

Harlem Globetrotter Buckets Blakes—also having seen the viral video—was on hand for the court’s grand opening, dazzling the kids with trick shots.

“This is the coolest!” the teens high-fived Officer White.

Today, through the Basketball Cop Foundation—a nonprofit whose mission is to spread #Hoopsnotcrime and develop trust between officers and youth—bobby has built more local courts and sent several balls and portable hoops to out- of- state police departments, churches and apartment complexes. He also remains close with his young friends, stopping to play ball, buy pizza, dole out advice—he even taught Tyree how to drive! Says Officer Whi te— who still keeps a basketball and football in the trunk of his patrol car so he can interact with kids in a positive way: “I still hardly believe how that one play I made became the ‘shot heard ’round the world,’ ” he marvels. “But being a police officer has allowed me to give love and support to a whole community of kids!”

Kids need someone to look up to. Maybe I could be that person “The only person who can really motivate you is you.” Shaquille O’neal