Basketball for All is giving athletes with disabilities a chance to shine on the court while raising awareness for their community. The nonprofit organizes scrimmages played during halftimes at local high school and college basketball games.

Bringing together participants ages 14 and up to encourage inclusion through basketball, the organization was founded by Executive Director Scotty Stevens in 2015 and was established as a nonprofit in 2019.

About the program

Stevens said that as the father of a son with Down syndrome, he understands the need to provide an outlet for the disabled community to enjoy sports on a higher level.

Through Basketball for All, athletes with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in scrimmages during Cy-Fair ISD high school and college basketball games.


Funded by donations and partnerships with several organizations, including City Gear, Hibbett Sports and Adidas, Basketball for All participants are able to play free of charge.
Basketball for All has played during scrimmages for the University of Houston for the past eight years. (Courtesy Basketball for All)
Basketball for All has played during scrimmages for the University of Houston for the past eight years. (Courtesy Basketball for All)
The nonprofit is partnered with several CFISD high schools, including Cypress Creek, Cypress Falls, Cypress Springs, Cypress Woods and Jersey Village High School. It has also partnered with the University of Houston for the past eight years. Other college partnerships include Sam Houston State University, Rice University, Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University.

What you need to know

Stevens said for the 2025 season, anyone who wants to participate in Basketball for All can register online from Sept. 6 to Oct. 25 for a $125 fee, which also covers uniforms for the games.

Once registered, Basketball for All holds practices once a week at Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Houston Heights from 9:30-11 a.m. through November. Practice is overseen by Stevens, a certified Special Olympics basketball coach, a former professional basketball player and a former professional football player.


“The main impact that I've actually seen throughout the years is the response that we get from the community,” Stevens said. “These individuals bring so much joy to the actual schools that we participate in, whether it's a high school or college, through the sport of basketball. Sports bring people together like anything you can possibly think of.”