In 2008, the region of Western Kentucky erupted with the emergence of fresh, raw talent in the world of slam dunks. When community members Jeffrey Lowery and Benjamin Dordoye started the Blue Thunder basketball team, they were unaware of just how much the players would grow in not only ability but also in character. In 2016, the VUE checked in with the high-scoring team to learn all about their progress.
Now, four years later, head coach Jeffrey Lowery is ready to share all the ways in which Blue Thunder has expanded and succeeded in its mission. But what hasn’t changed about the esteemed basketball team is its inclusivity to players from all walks of life. Ever since Blue Thunder emerged, its main goal has been to give young boys the opportunity to play travel ball. For most traveling basketball teams, the fees to play are enormous, requiring money for a spot on the team, apparel, and lodging for tournaments.
After noticing how many young boys with a passion for basketball and loads of athletic potential couldn’t afford to play on a team, Jeffrey started Blue Thunder. By implementing a low-cost entry fee, along with extensive fundraising, he was able to ensure that any boy had the opportunity to play basketball no matter their socioeconomic status. From there, the team only continued to grow.
Recently, the Blue Thunder basketball team celebrated its expansion and merger with the SEMO Elite basketball team out of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, after they met two years ago in Atlanta.. This has allowed the Blue Thunder basketball team to grow its outreach extensively. Now, their team has had players from St. Louis, Cincinnati, and many other cities.
Since the team focuses on providing an opportunity to play basketball to many at-risk kids, the athletic organization is more like a mentorship program. Their main goal is to help these kids work towards a better future and keep them off the streets. For that reason, they use basketball as the tool for them to further their education.
For this to work, the coaches not only require that their players have skill, but once out of the program, the former players must reach out to current players and be their source of guidance. This has the end goal of getting these young men ready to take the next step in their lives after high school.
The coaches start with younger players and try to develop their skill and maturity to the point where they are ready to either go to college or seek employment somewhere. Even though Blue Thunder and SEMO Elite function as a basketball team, when they approach the subject of college, their first concern is that the boys are able to obtain academic scholarships. If that is unobtainable, they move to the prospect of a basketball scholarship so that players can further their education without as big of a financial burden.
“We really stress the importance of our basketball team and the educational goals that come along with that because a lot of these young men are missing their leadership. That’s why they get into troubled crowds and do the wrong thing. It’s because they want to feel a part of something,” said Jeffrey. “We try to prevent that by offering more. So to me, it’s more than just basketball. It’s really about changing their lives. We want to give them some hope.”
Both Blue Thunder and SEMO Elite have succeeded in their goals, as they’ve seen many boys go off to college on scholarships and join the armed forces. For both options, the basketball team offers an array of resources to enable these young men to take the next step in their lives.
“It’s a reward to contribute to making these young men mature and turn into the types of men who will be good fathers, good husbands and just good citizens,” said Jeffrey. “We just have to change their mindset to show them that they are good and capable.”
As the current state of the world poses a lot of uncertainty in the realm of recreational sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the merged Blue Thunder and SEMO Elite basketball team will continue to serve as builders of skill, strength and character in the hearts of young players throughout the region.
