Kolodin Visits Goodyear’s Hoop Therapy Session

Arizona Secretary of State candidate Alexander Kolodin recently drove from Scottsdale to Goodyear to spend time with the men who gather weekly for the community basketball program known as Hoop Therapy. While Kolodin didn’t lace up for a run on the court, something the group joked would have been fun to see, he did take part in the tradition that begins every session: the “word of the week,” a short discussion that sets the tone before the first game tips off. Speaking candidly to the group, Kolodin reflected on how his experience in the legislature reshaped his understanding of public service.

“When I got down to the legislature, I realized that just knowing the law isn’t enough to do a good job in politics,” Kolodin said. “You have to connect with people. I can see now how the law actually impacts the lives of real people. If I’m going to work for you, I have to understand what you want so I can represent it.”

Standing in the circle, Kolodin also acknowledged that he can be a bit socially awkward. But at that moment, surrounded by players on a gym floor in Goodyear, he took a few minutes simply to connect with the men gathered there. For several in the group, the experience was new. Many said they had never spoken with an elected official before — much less a Republican candidate running for statewide office.

Hoop Therapy is a non-profit program run by Humanity Assemble and led by Curtis Kelly, husband of Arizona Globe journalist Christy Kelly. What began as a weekly pickup basketball run has evolved into something more intentional: a place where men and young boys gather around competition, discipline, and accountability while building relationships that often turn into organic mentorship.

Each session begins with the group standing in a circle for a brief conversation, the “word of the day” focusing on themes like responsibility, resilience, leadership, and community, before the games begin.

Kelly said Kolodin’s visit stood out because it wasn’t treated like a typical political stop.

“Every Hoop Therapy session starts the same way, we stand in a circle and talk about the word of the day,” said Kelly. “When Alex showed up, he didn’t ask for votes or signatures. He didn’t campaign. He stood in that circle on a gym floor in Goodyear and talked with the men. For a lot of them, it was the first time they had ever spoken to someone running for office. That kind of connection matters.”

And for the men there that morning, Kolodin’s willingness to drive across the Valley just to stand in that circle and listen left an impression. The Goodyear basketball group itself reflects a cross-section of everyday Arizona — veterans, blue-collar workers, a psychologist, city employees, and young men still figuring out their path.

Kelly told the Globe, “Winning isn’t about one person. It happens when the whole team stays connected. Right now, building real bridges between everyday people and their government matters more than ever.”