HOOPS KLUB

"I’m Guseyn Ishankuliyev, founder of Hoops Klub — a space created by a hooper, for hoopers. When I first came to this country, I didn’t have family here. I didn’t have friends. The only thing I had was basketball. And through this game, I met people, built relationships, and found my family on the court.

Basketball made me feel at home in New York City — the Mecca of this game. It didn’t matter where I was from. The court spoke a language we all understood. That’s the power of hoops — it connects people, no matter their background."