White Rock Basketball Inc. aims to use basketball and sport as an outlet to keep at risk youth off the streets. (Image Credit: submitted/Denzyl Gopher)

By Ryan Lambert

White Rock Basketball

Using sports for good; how a local basketball program is keeping kids off the streets

Apr 29, 2026 | 5:06 PM

For struggling youth, it can be easy to fall into a lifestyle on the streets without access to much. Sports can be a good outlet for people that are struggling, but often the financial aspect keeps people away. That is why Denzyl Gopher started White Rock Basketball Inc, a basketball program that is free of charge for youth.

Gopher had the idea of using basketball to keep kids off the street and teach them a positive lifestyle. “For me, basketball, sports in general just kept me out of trouble and kept me off the streets,” said Gopher. “I had this idea for a long time as a little kid just a way of changing the way of life.”

Before he began the program, Gopher was a volunteer coach for Junior NBA as well as the Tony Cote summer games. Now, he runs this program and serves as the head coach for the North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior boys’ Vikings basketball team.

Gopher said that he has been working slow and steadily on White Rock Basketball Inc. Three years ago, he began by opening the gyms at the high schools in North Battleford, mainly at Sakewew High School for open gym sessions where he runs drills and teaches basketball for about an hour before running scrimmages.

Now, the program has multiple teams and kids aged 12-18 participating for free of charge. Gopher mentioned that they attend tournaments run by the Living Skies league in Saskatoon a few times a year, and he even had a team go to Phoenix this past summer.

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He also said that he wants to take a team to Vancouver for a tournament in August. “Hopefully we bring home some trophies.”

On the basketball side of things, Gopher also said they are hoping to see some participants get scholarships for post-secondary basketball. While they don’t have any signees, they have been in contact with coaches about the possibility.

While there are some aspirations for travelling to more tournaments, the big reason for the program is to keep kids off the streets and help them positively progress in life. “I’ve been seeing really big improvements,” said Gopher.

“Even though I’m teaching basketball, I’m just trying to teach just life in general, just how to be a good person, how to make it in this place. I’m not saying I know everything. I just tell them about my experiences, where I went wrong and where I could wish I could do right.”

While the program started with primarily First Nations youth, it is open to all youth and has expanded to about a 50/50 split.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

Using sports for good; how a local basketball program is keeping kids off the streets

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