Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Sloan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Marcus. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Houston. Graduated from Eisenhower in 2001, top 100 basketball player in the country according to the “Sporting News” and “Street & Smith” magazines.
Went on to play collegiately at TCU, graduated with a communications degree, and a minor in social work. Went on to play professionally in Europe for eight years. Played one year in Germany, five in Switzerland, and two in France.
While in Europe in 2008, I started Shoot2Score Hoops, an organization that is dedicated to the positive development of boys and girls in Houston, Texas through basketball and character building programs.
Shoot2Score Hoops’ objectives are to provide extracurricular activities for youth that foster personal and academic development and to assist them in attaining their educational and professional goals. We host basketball camps year round, primarily when kids are out of school, summer break, winter break, and spring break.
Upon retirement, I wanted to get into the basketball event business, so I started BallOut Events, with my business partner, Martin Rogers. BallOut Events is a basketball event company that impacts the communities of which it serves with positive athletic platforms like tournaments, leagues, and showcases that not only highlight team competition and their participants, but also business, professional services, and community health and wellness providers that are closely connected to that community.
OTR Exposure is the latest venture, which is an NCAA Compliant basketball scouting service. Players in the greater Houston area are scouted and evaluated, and the info is sent to colleges & universities all over the country. The city of Houston and the game of Basketball made me who I am, and they are the ingredients of my success.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
LOL. It’s been a bumpy road at times, I’ve thought about giving up and just doing something else with my life. There will always be ebbs and flows, but my passion for the game has not wavered. I am in love with the game of basketball and helping kids use basketball as a vehicle to help them to go places they’ve never been.
It’s been tough having to reinvent myself, raise a family, being a good husband, father, and to become the best businessman I can be. Honestly, my biggest struggle is trying to balance my goals in business and my goals for my family.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
All three of my companies are in conjunction with each other. Shoot2Score Hoops is known for the basketball camps. We’re the longest running basketball camp in Houston and the only camp that runs the ENTIRE summer break. All ten weeks. We’re also the only camp that offers breakfast and lunch every day! Shoot2Scorehoops.com
BallOut Events specializes in Basketball events. We are striving to create a safe, fair and competitive platform for youth of all ages to compete in the game of basketball regardless of gender, nationality and socioeconomic standing.
OTR Exposure is different because it’s a hybrid business where we give parents information on recruiting and what can help their kids get recruited. We also give college coaches essential information to help them in the recruiting process as well.
What were you like growing up?
I was always a curious kid, who was interested in business and how money worked. My dad was my hero and mother shaped my ultra-competitive and confident personality, she made me feel like I could achieve anything.
Family was everything, and growing up I loved spending time with my younger brother Trey, playing video games and living life. I didn’t fall in love with basketball until I was 11 or 12 years old. Once I fell in love, I knew it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: shoot2scorehoops.com, balloutevents.com, otrexposure.com
- Instagram: the_marcussloan
- Facebook: Marcus Sloan
- Twitter: bigsloan32
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