Troup ISD holds ‘Hoop for Coop’ fundraiser for injured football player

TROUP, Texas (KLTV) - Troup ISD is holding a “Hoop for Coop” fundraiser to help provide support to the family of Cooper Reid.

Cooper sustained a significant head injury in September 2022 while playing in a football game against Buffalo High School. He has been hospitalized and in recovery ever since. Hoop for Coop will be a free-throw basketball shootout for Troup ISD’s boys and girls basketball team.

“Coach Harley, our head boys basketball coach was sitting here during the game watching his team clunk free throw after free throw and miss, miss, miss, as well as the girls sometimes too, and he thought ‘You know what? We’re going to turn this into a positive, and we’re going to try to raise money for Cooper, for his parents Terry and Suzie, and we’re going to do a free-throw shoot-a-thon,” Troup ISD Head Girls Basketball Coach and World History teacher David Minnix said.

The players will be shooting 100 free throws apiece during the fundraiser on Wednesday after collecting sponsorships. Each sponsor donated a specific amount per shot made.

“Some take just a flat pledge and say ‘I don’t care how many you make, I am going to pledge $100,’” Minnix said. “I know someone’s already pledged $1,000.”

Minnix said he hoped the teams learn more than how to perfect their shots.

“I think the bigger picture is, ‘Hey yeah, we can improve our free-throw shooting, but anything we can do to help Cooper and his family.’”

Minnix said he has been friends with the Reed family for years.

“Cooper is like the kind of kid that you want your kid to be like. Everybody loves him. He always has a smile on his face,” Minnix said.

For information on how to donate, call Troup ISD at (903) 842-3067.

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