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COME TO PLAY, STAY TO GROW

PLAY THE GAME, BUILD A NETWORK, ADVANCE YOUR CAREER—ALL WHILE STAYING INVOLVED IN THE SPORT YOU LOVE.

OUR MISSION

Our organization exists to allow individuals to foster a network of professionals that can help them get to the next phase of their academic and/or professional career. We offer a brave space for former athletes both male and female to play the game of basketball for free while giving back to the younger generation. We do this by hosting bi-weekly basketball open runs and mentoring opportunities.

OUR STORY

In 2010, our founder, Lexi was tasked between choosing to play on a Boys' Varsity Basketball Team for all four years of high school or to let her love for her favorite sport tarnish and not play at all. She chose the game and that led to her being the only female on the team and the only girl in IPPSAL history to play on a Boys' Varsity team. Although it did hurt her scouting process, she became a Division I athlete and started hosting co-ed open runs as she was tired of seeing one female and 9 males playing on the court. In 2021, Run It Back was born and she began to create these communities around the nation. Offering the same opportunity that was once given to her back in 2010 to play co-ed sports.

MEET THE TEAM

CEO & Board Chairman

Lexi Mickens

Lexi is a lifelong fan and player of the game. While being a D1 athlete at Wagner College, Lexi had a chance to work within entertainment production for each of New York’s professional sports teams. Outside of serving as the CEO for Run It Back, Lexi worked in Corporate America creating moments of connection globally between employees through Corporate Social Responsibility & Mergers and Acquisitions.

Co-CEO & Board Vice President

Kenny Mickens, MBA

Kenny is a business consultant with a specialization in strategy, corporate finance, and technological innovation. He has a successful track record of helping businesses scale their operations, develop automated processes, and achieve results. He is currently getting his Master's in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Director of Basketball Trends Analysis

Stephanie White

Stephanie White, a renowned figure in women's basketball, excelled at Purdue University and in the WNBA with the Charlotte Sting and Indiana Fever. Transitioning to coaching, she led teams to multiple finals, and as Connecticut Sun's head coach, achieved a record-breaking season, earning the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year.

PLAY IN OPEN RUNS

We organize free open basketball runs (5 on 5s) around the country for students over 12 and adults of all ages. You’ll meet people in your community, receive photos and videos to commemorate the run, and connect with people to broaden your professional network.

Open runs are separated by age, with co-ed runs offered for adults 18+, open runs for females only 18+ and open runs for student athletes ages 12-17.

MENTORSHIP

We provide 1:1 mentoring opportunities for student athletes ages 12-21. Our mentorship is based on a curriculum that has helped student athletes receive both academic and athletic scholarships. We focus on developing emotional intelligence, practicing new skills and interests, gaining confidence, and becoming more connected to your local community and school.

Our mentors are former student athletes who are a part of our open-run community. Each mentor must go through a background check and provide both a resume and reference list prior to becoming a confirmed mentor.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mentorship and development doesn’t stop when school is done. We offer our players resume reviews, mock interviews, and speed-networking opportunities. Through partnerships with corporations, we pair our adults with professionals who can share career advice and advancement strategies.

DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WHAT WE DO?

Run It Back relies on the generous help of various supporters and sponsors and every donation is gratefully received. For more information about the ways in which you can support please get in touch here:

Why donate?

FAQs

WHAT IS AN "OPEN RUN"?

An open run is an organic 5-on-5 basketball game that is not refereed; players work together to referee their own games.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLAY?

Nothing! A Run It Back open run is free and available to anyone over the age of 12. We host open runs for children under the age of 18 as well as adults over the age of 18.

HOW DO I KNOW MY CHILD WILL BE SAFE WITH THEIR MENTOR?

Each Run It Back mentor must pass a background check and provide a resume and reference list to be part of our program. We train each mentor on our curriculum before pairing them with a student athlete. Pairing of mentors and students is done in partnership with each student’s parent to ensure everyone is comfortable and matched with the best mentor possible.

WHAT SECURITY MEASURES DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE?

In addition to mentors’ background and resume checks, the runs themselves have safety measures in place. The specific location is not given until you’re a confirmed player, and we limit the number of participants to 20 at an open run and do not allow +1 attendees.

HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE IN MY RUN?

We introduce ourselves at the start of each run, then you’ll get an email after your run that contains more ways to get connected.

I LIKE THIS IDEA BUT DON'T PLAY BASKETBALL... WHAT CAN I DO?

Basketball is our focus right now, but we plan to expand to other sports in the future. If you would like to organize open games in your area for a different sport, please contact us! Our formula has been used successfully for both football and soccer already. If you’re a fan of the game but don’t consider yourself an athlete, we still have a spot for you on our team! Fill out this form for opportunities to volunteer as a community captain (helping us during event days) or a clock operator (keeping our open runs operating and on time).