At Pinewood Elementary School, basketball is more than just a sport — it’s a lifeline for many students, providing mentorship and support through the efforts of Dean of Students Tyrone Neal.”It makes me feel just happy because I get to have fun,” said Orette Indresano, a fourth-grade student. For many students, the intramural basketball team is the highlight of their school day.”I love it. It’s my hobby,” said Bradley Therelus, a fifth-grade student.Fellow fifth-grade student Genesis Hardy agreed, saying, “Basketball is basically my life.”The program is the brainchild of Tyrone Neal, the school’s dean of students. He not only coaches the team, but also personally funds the initiative.”As dean of students, I basically enforce the rules,” Neal said.But he does much more than that.For students struggling with behavior or emotions, Neal offers mentorship, not punishment.”Some schools call them frequent fliers,” Neal said. “I see them as more opportunities to help.”When there’s a behavioral issue, Neal and his assistant coaches respond directly.”We de-escalate. Relationships matter,” he said.Those relationships are built on and off the court. Participation on the team comes with clear expectations — Neal’s code of conduct.”We have to get good grades,” Hardy said.”It’s the rules for school. So we don’t do random stuff — like hit people,” Indresano said.Neal said his players are getting more than just a game — they’re getting mentorship, the kind that can change lives.He recalled the time a fourth-grade student skipped school to play basketball.”I saw the talent that he had,” Neal said. “I told him, ‘Let me help you with the attitude part.'”Students say they feel the difference.”That makes me feel good, knowing I’ve got support. Even when I mess up, he motivates me to keep going,” Hardy said.Therelus added, “He’s a great coach. He motivates me a lot.”Right now, there’s a waiting list of 40 to 50 kids who want to join, and the program has energized not just the players, but the entire school community, from cheerleaders to parents.”I’m overwhelmed that he went into his own pocket to do this,” one parent said. “The kids have never had anything like it.”Another parent noted, “It gives them an outlet, something to focus on other than getting in trouble.”For Neal, that’s the point.”If I don’t do it, who’s going to do it?” he said. “If I bless these kids, I’ll be blessed back — with students staying in school, graduating, calling me years later. That’s my motivation.”And for the students of Pinewood Elementary, that blessing is being felt loud and clear — on the hardwood and beyond.Aside from uniforms and basketball equipment, Neal sometimes pays to rent out the basketball court at the Orange County Orlando Magic Rec Center, which is next door to the school.Neal tries to do that sometimes so the Panthers can play other teams, especially when the weather forecast isn’t cooperating.It’s all out of his pocket, so if you want to help out, you can email tyrone.neal@ocps.net and just put “WESH2 SOS-Panther support” in the subject line.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

At Pinewood Elementary School, basketball is more than just a sport — it’s a lifeline for many students, providing mentorship and support through the efforts of Dean of Students Tyrone Neal.

“It makes me feel just happy because I get to have fun,” said Orette Indresano, a fourth-grade student.

For many students, the intramural basketball team is the highlight of their school day.

“I love it. It’s my hobby,” said Bradley Therelus, a fifth-grade student.

Fellow fifth-grade student Genesis Hardy agreed, saying, “Basketball is basically my life.”

The program is the brainchild of Tyrone Neal, the school’s dean of students. He not only coaches the team, but also personally funds the initiative.

“As dean of students, I basically enforce the rules,” Neal said.

But he does much more than that.

For students struggling with behavior or emotions, Neal offers mentorship, not punishment.

“Some schools call them frequent fliers,” Neal said. “I see them as more opportunities to help.”

When there’s a behavioral issue, Neal and his assistant coaches respond directly.

“We de-escalate. Relationships matter,” he said.

Those relationships are built on and off the court. Participation on the team comes with clear expectations — Neal’s code of conduct.

“We have to get good grades,” Hardy said.

“It’s the rules for school. So we don’t do random stuff — like hit people,” Indresano said.

Neal said his players are getting more than just a game — they’re getting mentorship, the kind that can change lives.

He recalled the time a fourth-grade student skipped school to play basketball.

“I saw the talent that he had,” Neal said. “I told him, ‘Let me help you with the attitude part.'”

Students say they feel the difference.

“That makes me feel good, knowing I’ve got support. Even when I mess up, he motivates me to keep going,” Hardy said.

Therelus added, “He’s a great coach. He motivates me a lot.”

Right now, there’s a waiting list of 40 to 50 kids who want to join, and the program has energized not just the players, but the entire school community, from cheerleaders to parents.

“I’m overwhelmed that he went into his own pocket to do this,” one parent said. “The kids have never had anything like it.”

Another parent noted, “It gives them an outlet, something to focus on other than getting in trouble.”

For Neal, that’s the point.

“If I don’t do it, who’s going to do it?” he said. “If I bless these kids, I’ll be blessed back — with students staying in school, graduating, calling me years later. That’s my motivation.”

And for the students of Pinewood Elementary, that blessing is being felt loud and clear — on the hardwood and beyond.

Aside from uniforms and basketball equipment, Neal sometimes pays to rent out the basketball court at the Orange County Orlando Magic Rec Center, which is next door to the school.

Neal tries to do that sometimes so the Panthers can play other teams, especially when the weather forecast isn’t cooperating.

It’s all out of his pocket, so if you want to help out, you can email tyrone.neal@ocps.net and just put “WESH2 SOS-Panther support” in the subject line.