Hoop Dreams are Destiny for Foggiano's Young Basketball League Players

Destined To Be Stars, the nonprofit basketball league for boys and girls, is signing up players until Dec. 6. League president Frank Foggiano, who's run the league for 40 years, says more than 20,000 students have taken part since he started the program with the city of La Mesa. Foggiano turned the program into a nonprofit corporation when the city could no longer run it.

Some 200 to 300 kids join every year—third through eighth grade. Besides, La Mesa, they also come from El Cajon, Lakeside, Santee, San Diego, Jamul and Alpine. And because Foggiano is Grossmont High School's athletic director and varsity boys' basketball coach, the league is able to use the Grossmont gym for practices and games. Foggiano said he isn't swayed by the high schools players plan to attend. "I just want to make sure the kids get a chance to play," he said.

Foggiano's Foothillers officiate the games as part of their community service for college applications. The older boys also get to mentor the younger. "I like that the youth get to see my players," Foggiano said. "And my kids learn that they're role models."

Destined To Be Stars players are also sometimes destined for college. "Quite a few have gone to college for scholarships," Foggiano said. A few NBA players emerged, including former Dallas Maverick Ralph Drollinger and Bill Walton, who played for the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trailblazers.

League membership costs $70, which helps cover costs for the 10-game schedule and team shirt. Players are placed in divisions depending on grade level. The first game is Jan. 8, followed by every Saturday. There is no championship game or all-stars, and that's just the way Foggiano likes it. "There's no pressure for the kids," he said. "They play basketball for the joy of basketball."

NUMBERS GAME: Foggiano isn't just a varsity basketball skipper—he also coaches high school students preparing for the math portion of their SAT college boards. Foggiano teaches honors math at Grossmont High School. So far so good: His students do well, with 15 of them receiving perfect math scores. "I take the fear out of math," he said. Foggiano just wrapped up a 10-day course. The next series is in March and costs $70 for 10 one-hour sessions.

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