In the heart of Solano State Prison, a groundbreaking program is rewriting the narrative of rehabilitation through basketball. The Golden State Warriors’ Twinning Project is providing incarcerated men with more than just coaching skills – it’s offering a pathway to personal transformation and hope.

Ray Woodfork’s story embodies the program’s profound impact. Once aspiring to play in the NBA, Woodfork’s life took a devastating turn when he was arrested for murder at age 20. Now, he’s using basketball as a tool for personal growth and redemption. During a potential confrontation in prison, he chose to walk away – a skill he learned through the program’s mental training.

The six-week program, led by Warriors Basketball Academy coaches, teaches inmates not just basketball techniques, but critical life skills. Participants learn mental strategies like the “palms down” approach, which helps them manage triggers and choose constructive responses. Many participants report feeling seen and valued, often for the first time in years.

Certified as basketball coaches, these men are now positioned to become positive influences within the prison community. The program goes beyond sports, focusing on personal development, emotional intelligence, and community building. Mental skills coach Graham Betchart has been instrumental in developing strategies that help participants reframe their thinking.

The Twinning Project, originally started in the UK with soccer teams, has found fertile ground in the U.S. prison system. A University of Oxford study highlights the program’s holistic benefits, showing improved behavior, reduced violence, and better interpersonal relationships among participants.

For Woodfork, the program has been transformative. He now works as a drug and alcohol counselor and has even begun writing rap lyrics that capture his journey of personal growth. “This is an opportunity to show the world I’m not the person I was,” he says.

As more sports teams recognize the potential of such rehabilitation programs, the Warriors’ initiative stands as a powerful example of how sports can be a catalyst for personal change and social rehabilitation.