Our Story

Why Hoop2Heal exists, and the people building it.

Hoop2Heal in the community

Founder

Chad Lott, MA, MS, PLPC

Chad Lott is the founder of Hoop2Heal and a provisionally licensed professional counselor whose career bridges mental health, athletics, and youth development. A former NCAA Division I basketball player and 2019 graduate of Howard University with a B.S. in Psychology, Chad later earned dual master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Sport Management from the University of South Alabama. His professional experience includes serving as Director of Student-Athlete Wellness with South Alabama Men’s Basketball, providing counseling and behavioral-health services to youth, and developing sport-based programming for young people in community and school settings.

Drawing from his experience as both an athlete and mental health professional, Chad created Hoop2Heal around the belief that sport can be a practical vehicle for developing focus, emotional regulation, confidence, resilience, and leadership. The organization has grown from that foundation into a broader sport-based development platform serving youth, athletes, schools, nonprofits, and community partners.

Founding Leadership

The People Behind Hoop2Heal

Hoop2Heal is led by professionals and community leaders whose backgrounds span mental health, athletics, community development, education, and nonprofit work.

Co-Founder & Community Development Director

David L. Holmes, MSW

Newark, New Jersey · Shreveport roots

David L. Holmes, MSW, is a Hoop2Heal co-founder, community leader, social innovator, and founder of Hood Humanitarian. With more than 17 years of experience across youth development, education, community advocacy, and environmental programming, his work connects behavioral development, mental health, community well-being, and the environments in which people live and learn. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, David developed early expertise in food security and garden management through the LSU AgCenter before serving in AmeriCorps and working as a teacher and program director. He earned his Master of Social Work from Florida A&M University with a focus on macro practice, community development, and nonprofit management and is currently a PhD candidate in Environmental Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York, where his research examines how nature-based interventions may support neuroplasticity and help reduce the effects of environmental stress. A former collegiate basketball player at BPCC, Northwestern State, and LSUS, David brings a research-informed, community-centered perspective to Hoop2Heal's mission.

Co-Founder & Clinical Strategy Director

Dr. McKayla Roberts

Oakland, California

Dr. McKayla Roberts is a psychological associate working toward psychologist licensure whose experience spans children, adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, and families. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from Oral Roberts University, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Montclair University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute. Her work emphasizes trauma-informed and culturally affirming care and includes concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, cultural trauma, academic stress, and athletic performance anxiety. A former collegiate track athlete at Oral Roberts University, Dr. Roberts brings firsthand understanding of the relationship between mental health, identity, and performance. Her clinical perspective strengthens Hoop2Heal's commitment to responsible, developmentally informed programming.

Program & Operations Leadership

Built to Deliver

Our broader team brings the operational, creative, procurement, and frontline youth-program capacity needed to turn the mission into consistent community work.

Director of Procurement

Teonray Mills

Dallas, Texas

Teonray Mills is a business and finance professional with a decade of experience in sales, client development, negotiation, and operations. He holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and has experience overseeing procurement, inventory, logistics, and vendor relationships. He is also the founder and CEO of Vanity Cuts.

Director of Marketing

Deandrea Drew

Shreveport, Louisiana

Deandrea Drew brings extensive experience in brand strategy, creative direction, communications, community engagement, fundraising campaigns, corporate partnerships, public relations, digital marketing, photography, and event production. In his professional work with Providence House, he leads marketing and creative strategy designed to turn organizational missions into memorable experiences and stronger community support.

Director of Youth Programs

Kaalas Roots

Fort Worth, Texas

Kaalas Roots is a youth development professional, coach, and mental health advocate with roots in Bossier, Louisiana and a background in athletics, education, and community engagement. A former collegiate student-athlete on scholarship, he now channels his experience into mentorship, coaching, and mental health advocacy. After surviving a serious vehicle wreck, Kaalas expanded that advocacy through his work as a THINKFIRST ambassador, using his experience to encourage young people to make safer, more intentional choices. Through Hoop2Heal initiatives and school partnerships, he integrates sports performance, prevention, mental wellness, and mentorship with a strong frontline understanding of youth development.