The Student Athlete Mentoring Program (SAMP), created by Watkins Mill alumnus Joseph Hooks through the 480 Club, is entering its fourth year with a new twist that brought a professional sports feel to youth mentorship in Montgomery County.
Last week, more than 150 people gathered at the BlackRock Center for the Arts for what organizers say may be the first event of its kind in the country: a live “Mentor Draft,” where high school student-athletes selected their mentees for the upcoming year. Prior to the draft, each student mentor goes through a 6-hour leadership training program with Lead ‘Em Up, which was created fellow Watkins Mill alumnus Adam Bradley.
The event mirrored the energy of an NFL Draft. Young mentees were called up on stage, introduced to the crowd, and officially paired with their mentors in front of families, community members, law enforcement, and local leaders. Draft music, stage moments, and the live selection process turned what is typically a behind-the-scenes matching process into a celebratory, community-centered experience.
This year’s program will include student-athletes from Northwest High School and Clarksburg High School, continuing SAMP’s focus on building strong mentorship pipelines within school clusters.
Hooks described the evolution of the program as something much bigger than its original vision. “What started as an idea has grown into a movement,” he said. “We’re now serving 100 mentees annually, powered by 25 high school student-athlete mentors.”
The structure of SAMP goes beyond traditional mentorship by combining athletics with social and emotional development. The program centers around motivational coaching, mental wellness check-ins, and building accountability and connection among participants. It is offered at no cost, a core part of its mission to ensure access for all families.
The kickoff week highlighted the program’s multi-day approach. The first day focused on leadership and mentorship development, with student-athletes receiving training designed to prepare them to lead and support younger students. The second day featured the Mentor Draft at BlackRock, while the third day brought participants together for a “Friday Night Lights” open gym session, creating a safe and structured environment for bonding and relationship building.
Support from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, program coordinators, youth sports organizations, and local leaders continues to play a key role in SAMP’s growth. The program maintains strong ties to community football organizations like the Germantown Ducks and Clarksburg Sports Association, reinforcing its connection between youth sports and high school athletics.
Now entering Year 4, SAMP continues to build on its track record as one of the county’s most impactful youth-led initiatives. By pairing high school athletes with younger students, the program creates consistent mentorship, strengthens community ties, and provides young people with role models who understand their experiences firsthand.
Hooks said the goal moving forward is simple but ambitious: expand the program and ensure more young people have access to the kind of mentorship that can shape their future.“When you build through sport,” he said, “you build community.”
