He Volunteered To Coach a Youth Basketball Team. What Happened Next, He’ll Cherish Forever

When the Black Knights won their opening game, Boothby didn’t realize the accomplishment’s significance until the parents notified him afterward.

“That’s when I found out they didn’t win one game (last year),” Boothby said. “They were like, ‘Well, we already won more than last season. So, we thank you for that.’”

The gratitude only continued as the Black Knights kept winning. Boothby, a four-year varsity basketball player in high school, preached on-court basics – “The rule I had for the first day of practice was every time you passed the ball to someone, you had to say their name. ‘Hey, Jojo!’ ‘Hey, Matt!’ ‘Hey, Brandon!’” – and strived for off-court chemistry.

“One day,” he said, “we went to Cookout after practice. That was something I had done with my team when I was little, and I wanted to incorporate into this team. We all had a great time, so we started doing that more.

“Things like that really bonded the team.”

The parents of Jovanni “Jojo” Henry, No. 34, say Boothby’s best trait as a coach is the way he relates to the players. “He’s really knowledgeable about basketball,” said Leon Henry, Jojo’s father, “so it was good that he was able to meet them on their level and help them develop.” (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

The Black Knights went 8-4 and, last Saturday, fell narrowly in their league’s championship game.

Albert Shields, a sixth-grader at Charlottesville Day School, is grateful for the experience he’s had with Boothby. Shields played for the Black Knights last season, but this season, “We’ve won a lot more,” he said. “I like my team better. The team is nice. And I’ve improved a lot.”

Sarah Shields, Albert’s mother and a 2005 UVA graduate, added some context.

“The best part about Thomas is he makes it so fun, and he’s connected with each and every one of those kids,” she said. “And they all just adored him immediately. Some of these kids wouldn’t even take a shot (last year) and now they’re shooting 3s, they’re defending, they’re passing to each other so much better. It’s been awesome.”

Ben D’Alessandro, Virginia Basketball Academy’s executive director who oversees coaching in the Virginia Developmental Basketball League, said Boothby was one of about 30 UVA students who volunteered in some way for their organization this season. The relationship between VABA and UVA is longstanding.

Albert Shields, No. 31, says he’s “improved a lot” under Boothby. “He taught us how to play a lot better defense,” Shields said, “and rebounding.” (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

“We have a lot of really popular, good coaches who are UVA students,” D’Alessandro said. “I think the proximity and the age is a benefit, as they can relate to the kids better. It’s usually a positive partnership for us.”

Boothby is philanthropic by nature. The pre-commerce student is the founder and CEO of Tools to Teach, a nonprofit organization that helps underserved children receive school supplies. Rarely shying from an opportunity to give back to a community, he’s particularly proud of the new relationships he’s formed within Charlottesville.

Though the basketball season’s over, Boothby’s eagerly planning an additional get-together with the Black Knights and their parents.

He’s a poster boy for the good that can come from a college student seeking purpose beyond campus boundaries. When Boothby wasn’t coaching basketball this winter, he was intentionally sledding on hills off Grounds when it snowed. He also attended an art class at The Scrappy Elephant in McIntire Plaza, befriending a few senior citizens whom he later met for coffee and donuts.

“I’m very passionate about trying to make the community of Charlottesville benefit from UVA and UVA benefit from the community of Charlottesville,” Boothby said. “UVA has the most driven people I’ve ever been around in my entire life. But sometimes, they could take a step back and look at where they are right now and just experience Charlottesville, because it’s such a cool place.”