On July 25, CAF welcomed more than 25 athletes with permanent physical disabilities to the SDSU Jeff Jacobs JAM Center for the third annual Wheelchair Basketball Clinic, presented in partnership with the MESA Foundation and SDSU Adapted Athletics. 

Hosted on the official practice courts of the SDSU Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs, the clinic brought together athletes, coaches, and members of the San Diego sports community for a day centered on skill development, competition, and connection. From first-time participants learning the fundamentals of wheelchair basketball to experienced athletes sharpening their game, the clinic once again highlighted the power of sport to bring people together. 

Building Skills Through Sport 

The day began with wheelchair basketball drills, skill-building exercises, and scrimmages led by Coach Jacques “JT” Theus, head coach of Roll to Success. A longtime leader within Southern California’s adaptive sports community, Coach Theus has overseen the clinic since its inception and brought decades of playing and coaching experience to the court. 

Many of the athletes attending this year’s clinic regularly train and compete with Roll to Success, creating an environment that welcomed both familiar faces and newcomers interested in expanding their skills. Throughout the morning, athletes worked on ball handling, passing, shooting, chair mobility, and game strategy before putting those skills into action during competitive scrimmages. 

For CAF, clinics like this are an important part of creating opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities to explore new sports, develop athletic skills, and find community through movement and competition. 

A Unique Partnership with SDSU Basketball 

One of the most memorable aspects of the clinic came during the second half of the day when members of the SDSU Men’s Basketball team joined participants on the court. 

Before the student-athletes arrived, CAF Programs Manager Kyle Grozen provided an overview of wheelchair basketball and shared what they could expect from the experience. He also invited players who had participated in previous years to offer advice to their teammates. 

Latrell Davis, an SDSU junior guard entering his third year attending the clinic, summed up the experience simply. 

“This is the most fun clinic of the year.” 

Both Grozen and Davis encouraged the SDSU players to engage with participants, ask questions, and talk basketball throughout the afternoon. The result was immediate. Conversations started naturally between drills and scrimmages, creating meaningful connections that extended beyond the game itself. 

By sharing the court together, athletes and student-athletes experienced firsthand what makes wheelchair basketball such a competitive, fast-paced, and highly skilled sport. Those interactions helped strengthen relationships between CAF athletes and members of the SDSU basketball program while creating an atmosphere built on mutual respect and teamwork. 

Moments That Defined the Day 

Throughout the clinic, there were countless examples of sports bringing people together. 

During one of the final scrimmages, an SDSU player launched a shot from near half court just before the buzzer sounded. When the basket fell, players from both teams erupted in celebration. Athletes and Aztecs alike rushed together in excitement, creating one of the day’s most memorable moments. 

The energy continued through the closing stages of the event, where athletes competed, laughed, and encouraged one another from the sidelines. What started as a clinic evolved into a shared basketball experience that highlighted the connections formed through participation. 

Strengthening San Diego’s Adaptive Sports Community 

The annual Wheelchair Basketball Clinic has become a favorite event on CAF’s Southern California calendar because it represents so many of the values that drive the organization’s work. 

Partnerships with organizations such as the MESA Foundation, SDSU Adapted Athletics, Roll to Success, and SDSU Men’s Basketball help create opportunities that introduce more athletes to adaptive sports while strengthening pathways for continued participation. 

The clinic also reflects the broader support that exists within San Diego’s sports community. By opening the doors of the JAM Center and bringing student-athletes together with CAF participants, the event created experiences that extended beyond athletic development. It fostered relationships, challenged perspectives, and reinforced the idea that sport is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to participate. 

As the third annual clinic comes to a close, CAF remains committed to expanding access to adaptive sports opportunities throughout Southern California and beyond. Seeing athletes compete, learn, and connect alongside members of the SDSU basketball program is a reminder of what becomes possible when community partners come together with a shared goal: creating more opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities to pursue sport. 

Through events like the Wheelchair Basketball Clinic, that vision continues to grow, one athlete, one game, and one connection at a time.