Former NBA Player, HOOPSLife Founder Burke to Speak at Ozarks

Former NBA player Pat Burke, founder of the youth-development program HOOPSLife, will speak at University of the Ozarks on Thursday, Oct. 10, as part of the University's 2024-25 Walton Arts & Ideas Series.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Rogers Conference Center. There is no cost for admission and the public is invited to attend.

Born in Dublin, Burke's family moved to the United States from Ireland when he was 4 years old. He became the first Irish-born player to make it to the NBA in 2002 when he signed with the Orlando Magic. He had a professional basketball career spanning 12 years playing all over the world. He acquired a total of six championships in a career that included the NBA and FIBA leagues overseas as well as with Ireland's senior men's team.

Today, Burke has taken on a new role that involves youth development. He and his wife, Peyton, in 2013 spearheaded a group of leaders to develop transformative programs that share an introduction to leadership and life skills. The experience in his career allowed Burke to identify what creates a strong team, community, and family.

The HOOPSLife program extends that experience to youth, promoting leadership and life skills through basketball to young boys and girls and allowing them to identify how their choices impact their lives and those around them.

The HOOPSLife program has extended from Orlando, Fla., to impacting youth in Ireland and within academies around the country. HOOPSLife has assisted thousands of youth since its start-up in 2011 to enroll children in positive programs.

Topics: WAIS