SAN ANTONIO — Rian Forestier couldn’t believe what an AAU basketball teammate told her last summer.
The teammate, who’s now one of the best players nationally in the Class of 2024, said she nearly quit during middle school tryouts after being teased about her shoes.
“She didn’t want to come back. She did not want to play basketball again,” said Forestier, a junior at San Antonio Brandeis High School. “That really hit me, because that’s my best friend, basically my sister, and I could not imagine her not playing basketball.”
Forestier and her mom, Denise, took action. They started a nonprofit called “4Ward”, with a mission to provide basketball shoes to players at Title 1 middle schools in San Antonio.
Places where hoop dreams sometimes meet a harsh reality. Places like Pat Neff Middle School on the city’s Northside.
“A lot of the girls that come here, they don’t have the necessary attire,” said Neff eighth-grader Karley Abney.
Being a Title 1 school means that at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Things like basketball shoes are a luxury for many, something Forestier aims to change.
“I didn’t realize how it could completely stop someone from playing the sport,” Forestier said.
“4Ward” raised money by selling t-shirts. Their goal was 250 shirts. They sold 600.
Seven area businesses agree to sponsor the initiative, too. Jakob Poeltl and the San Antonio Spurs also helped Forestier reach her goal.
“From our next-door neighbors to literally pro athletes, everyone in this community was so willing to give back and it was just awesome to see,” Forestier said.
Forestier surprised more than 50 players at Neff with brand new basketball shoes in December.
“It was amazing. Most of us don’t have enough money to get the right attire,” said eighth grader Janaya Lopez. “That Rian gave the shoes to us is just such a blessing.”
“Just seeing some of the looks on their faces, that was really genuine,” Abney said. “That was my first look when I got my first pair of basketball shoes.”
Neff coach Dorothy Garcia said the new kicks are already making a difference.
“I definitely see the level of improvement in our girls,” Garcia said. “More confidence in that they have their first basketball shoes, and they’re super excited and pumped to want to play the game.”
Hoop dreams rekindled for this group of middle schoolers.
“It was just amazing to see how I impacted them, and how the community was willing to help these kids,” Forestier said. “I want to keep doing this. I really want to impact and help as many kids as I possibly can.”