Role models are people to look up to, and they help those around them develop into the people they will become. For Steph Curry, it was Reggie Miller and Steve Nash. For Caitlin Clark, it was Maya Moore and Serena Williams. And for Elks Hoop Shoot National Finalists, it’s the members of the BackBoard.
The Hoop Shoot Alumni Advisory Board, also known as the BackBoard, is a group of past National Finalists who return to Chicago to serve as volunteers, leaders, and role models to the 72 current National Finalists. This year, five new members joined the team.
For Elks Hoop Shoot enthusiasts, the name Cowgill is synonymous with the National Finals. Since 1988, five different members of the family have competed a total of 15 times on the program’s biggest stage. Though Camden, the second youngest of the family’s National Finalists, had big shoes to fill when he began his Elks Hoop Shoot journey, he lived up to the family name.
Camden made it all the way to Chicago in four straight seasons (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019) and never finished outside the top two. His incredible performance in 2016, in which he made 25 of 25 in regulation and another 44 of 45 in a shoot-off, earned him a Frank Hise National Championship, Getty Powell Award, and Emile Brady Award. He added another first-place trophy to his collection in 2018.
“The Elks Hoop Shoot taught me to be calm and confident in stressful situations, which has definitely helped me throughout my career,” says Camden.
Based on Camden’s continued success on the basketball court, he clearly took these lessons to heart. Camden racked up over 2,000 points for his high school team, tallied school records for three-pointers and assists in his senior season, and currently plays for West Texas A&M University.
Julie Hull, a 2020 National Finalist and new member of the BackBoard, also has a family connection to the National Finals. Her brother, Jason, competed in Chicago in 2017, coming in 12th place. When Julie had her chance to earn sibling bragging rights in 2020, she didn’t let it slip away; she made 22 of 25 to finish in fourth.
“Competing alongside my brother over the years is one of my fondest memories of the Elks Hoop Shoot,” says Julie.
In high school, Julie started all four years for her varsity team, where she was named Big Sky League Player of the Year in her senior year, earned first-team all-league honors three times, and led her team to a district championship. Now, she continues to unleash her grit on the court as she plays for Trinity Bible College.
Just like Julie, Camden Dalinghaus came in fourth place at the National Finals, has a brother that plays basketball, and has continued to impress on the court. In his final three years of high school, Camden led his team to an 82-5 record, which included a 56-game winning streak and three consecutive state championships. He earned first-team all-state honors once, first-team all-conference honors three times, and scored more than 1,500 points.
Though the final two new members of the BackBoard, Hannah Herrick and Jayden Perry, have hung up their basketball sneakers for good, they’ve been using the grit they unleashed in other ways, and they’re excited to share their stories with competitors.
Growing up, Hannah spent countless hours in her hometown gym, learning how to block out distractions, stay composed under pressure, and of course, make free throws. Her hard work paid off, as she advanced to the Finals in both 2017 and 2019. Now a student at Creighton University, Hannah recognizes the difference that the program has made in her life.
“The pressure of standing alone at the free throw line prepared me to handle challenging moments with confidence and determination,” says Hannah. “Because of the Elks Hoop Shoot, grit became more than a word—it became a mindset I continue to rely on.”
When she left Chicago after her second Finals appearance, Hannah found herself dreaming of the opportunity to come back as a member of the BackBoard. Now, that dream will come true.
“I truly admired the Backboard members who served when I was a Finalist,” says Hannah. “I want nothing more than to give back to an organization that taught me so many valuable lessons and gave so much to me.”
Jayden, a 2015 National Finalist, was also inspired to join the BackBoard by a desire to give back. Whether it was meeting new friends, traveling the country, or learning important life lessons, Jayden’s experiences in the Elks Hoop Shoot proved to be life changing. The grit he unleashed through the program isn’t used on the court anymore, but it is applied every day in his studies at Utah Tech University.
“I realized that hard work and repetition can pay off in any aspect of life,” says Jayden.
These five new members will join returning members Gabriela Gaskins, Jerika Moore, Jacobi Lafferty, Anthony Flint, and Zocko Littleton Jr., all of whom bring years of experience as both National Finalists and members of the BackBoard.
Steph Curry had role models. Caitlin Clark had role models. The 2026 Elks Hoop Shoot National Finalists have role models. No matter where they end up, these 72 gritty kids will always be able to look back on the lessons they learned from the members of the BackBoard.