CALDWELL, Idaho — A hot summer morning in the Treasure Valley – the perfect time to get inside and get to work on the hardwood.
A new camp at Vallivue High School looks to teach all the fundamentals of basketball – dribbling, passing, shooting form – but what makes it unique is the other skill it brings into focus.
"You could be the happiest person in the room and you're just never gonna know what they're thinking or what's going on in their life at home," Eliaez Baez said.
Baez created the camp to honor his friend Reece Hadlock.
"Reece was just one-of-a-kind, really," Baez said. "He had spina bifida, which is a lifelong effect on his body. He went through more surgeries than he had toes. If you talk to anyone who knew him, they'd say he's funny, outgoing – he wore a pink singlet to basketball games. He didn't care what anyone thought. Someone looked a certain way, he didn't care, he'd be their friend."
Hadlock died by suicide in 2019. A final text message left a permanent impact on his friend.
"The message said, 'I love you, just keeping doing you baby and everything will be okay. You were built for this,'" Baez said. "From that point, I just kind of took that message personally and to heart."
Built 4 This became the name and the mantra – a mission to help kids learn the importance of mental health, while playing the sports they love.
"Even if we had five people, 10 people, we're grateful for everyone who came out," Baez said.
In the program's first-ever event, campers showed up in droves.
Between drills inside Vallivue's gym, guest speakers talked about the importance of confidence, self worth and not being afraid to talk about your problems and emotions. They also encouraged checking in on teammates, classmates and friends.
Baez also got some help from his teammates. Former Falcons basketball star Amoro Lado could relate to the basketball camp's mission.
"Letting these kids know that they matter and we're here for them," Lado said.
Basketball brought him to Division I heights at the University of Hawaii, before the opportunity was cut short by injury.
"That was my first time being hurt ever in my basketball career," Lado said. "All the hours that I put in the gym building up to that moment, not being able to play, it was very important that I was mentally strong. It was also very important that I had the right people around me to keep me sane and keep me in a positive mindset."
For many, sports can be an escape. But at its core, basketball mirrors life.
"You're gonna go through these challenges, you're gonna through ups and downs, and it's how you respond and how you react that ultimately will kind of help you through life," Vallivue head coach Mario Betancourt said.
Betancourt said he loved seeing his former players give back to the community. He's noticing the changes – coaches and players embracing a world of sports with mental health at the forefront.
"It's getting there and I think we're getting better at it," Betancourt said. "I do see that it's something that we need to start implementing a little more."
As the kids take home the tips they learned on the court, Baez wanted to make sure they also brought home something tangible – a booklet filled with pages of guides, resources and mental health tips.
"You never know who you could help, whether it's a friend or family," Baez said. "If they remember at least one thing from the pamphlet, they might not remember it all, but it's a good way to just spread awareness."
Changing the conversation about mental health with a fun day of hoops.
Baez wanted the first-ever event to be a basketball camp, but he plans to incorporate more sports down the road. Whether it's football, soccer or volleyball, the former Falcon wants to continue offering these camps.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicide, mental or emotional problems, drugs or alcohol, or having family or relationship problems, call or text the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline at 988.
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