Newman-Beck to host Medford Hoops and Hope Classic, Aug. 24

Sam Newman-Beck is bringing a little bit of the NBA back to his old stomping grounds, once again.

The former Medford High Mustang and current pro-evaluation lead with the Washington Wizards, Newman-Beck will host the ninth annual Hoops and Hope Classic at Dugger Park, Sunday, Aug. 24.

The basketball extravaganza will feature surprise celebrity guests, high school and college-age basketball tournaments, as well as a free kid’s clinic for players age 7-17. This year’s special guest coaches include Calvin Booth, a 10-year NBA veteran and former NBA general manager, and nine-year NBA vet Georges Niang of the Utah Jazz, among others.

“I’m excited,” said Newman-Beck, 38. “It’s always a journey. Every year we try to find new guest coaches and special celebrities to bring in. We’re still working on a couple more surprises, but everything is going well.”

In addition, the local hoop exec will unveil another exciting event to the schedule.

“The cool aspect we added this year was an NBA roundtable,” said Newman-Beck. “It’s a separate part of the event, but an opportunity for people to sign-up and talk to executives about potentially working in the NBA.”

The NBA roundtable, which is designed for people age 18+, will be held at the West Medford Community Center from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The star-studded panel will include Emmanuel Rohan, assistant general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dwight Lutz, vice president of basketball strategy and analytics with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hoops and Hope Classic will also feature plenty of fun and games for all ages, including a silent auction and face painting.

Organizing an event like this in his own backyard is something that always appealed to Newman-Beck. The Harvey and Brooks Hobbs alum was regular at the West Medford Community Center after school program while growing up.

He previously ran the West Medford Summer Men’s Basketball League. The league was created in honor of Brandon Bolden, a friend of Sam’s, who died from a heart condition while playing on the court in the summer of 2000.

“It still means a lot to come back to West Medford and Duggar Park,” said Newman-Beck. “They recently (renovated) the park. Getting to work with a lot of the people that helped me put on the event, a lot of West Medford natives, is always fun. It’s old friends, people I grew up with, and the city always appreciates it.”

The event continues to draw big numbers to the park. Last year’s Classic drew roughly 400 kids for the NBA Clinic.

“Every year presents different opportunities,” said Newman-Beck. “At one point we had a bunch of different sports clinics, but felt we weren’t getting enough kids. So now we’re really focused just on the basketball portion of the day.”

Like most kids shooting hoops at Duggar Park, Newman-Beck had dreams of playing in the NBA. A three-year letterman with the Medford High School boys basketball team, the Mustang was part of some tough rebuilding years. Wins came at a premium.

The 6-foot-2 inch, 185-pound shooting guard has fond memories playing ball with his buddies, including Justin Clayton, Kenny Rogers, Malcolm Andrews and Julien Mundele. He also drew a lot from his mentor, MHS legend and assistant coach Jean Bain.

 After graduating from Medford in 2004, Newman-Beck continued his education at Westfield State, transferring to Emerson, where he earned a degree in broadcast journalism in 2009. He joined the Boston Celtics the following year as an intern during the 2009-10 season. He cut his teeth on Causeway Street, working as an assistant video intern, finding his knack for breaking down game footage.

It was an exciting time for the rookie video man, with the Celtics coming within minutes of claiming another world championship before bowing out in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Newman-Beck the following season. He worked both as a coaching associate and video scouting director from 2010-18. He continued to pave a unique path through the pro ranks in recent years, working as a G-League coach with the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder organizations, before joining the Wizards in 2023.

Although the world of basketball has taken him across the country, Newman-Beck’s roots remain firmly embedded in his hometown of Medford.

“I look forward to seeing all the kids come out and spend the day here,” said Newman-Beck. “The planning is the stressful part, but the day of (the event), the response we get from the community is worth it. To be able to bring these kids outside to a free event, seeing people you haven’t seen in 20 years, that’s why we do it. It’s nice just to see people come together big time, when the world needs it.”

To register and for more information on Hoops and Hope, click here.