Deals & Steals on Lara's fabulous finds!

Open menu

  • Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2023 ABC News
  • Living

Stranger buys boy a basketball hoop after seeing him shooting hoops into a trash can

VIDEO: Toddler shows off serious basketball skills
2:10
Toddler shows off serious basketball skills
ABCNews.com
PHOTO: Shannon McLellan
ByShannon McLellan
February 18, 2021, 1:28 pm

When it comes to random acts of kindness, this one is a slam dunk.

Devin Hinkston, 30, was driving through the town of Alexandria, Louisiana, when he spotted a young boy playing basketball in his driveway. When he got closer, he realized the boy was using a trash can as a basketball hoop.

Hinkston decided to change that.

PHOTO: 8-year-old Jeremiah plays on a basketball team at his local church.
8-year-old Jeremiah plays on a basketball team at his local church.
Charminique Love

“I always do [random acts of kindness]," Hinkston said. "I’ll see kids in the corner store and I’ll buy all of them something to snack on. I’ll see a homeless person and buy them a bomber jacket or some food. I just never post about it on social media because that’s not the reason I’m doing it. I do it from the heart.”

MORE: Raleigh teens helping community fight COVID-19 surprised with home

When Hinkston pulled up to the house with a basketball hoop, he was greeted by Patricia Williams and her 8-year-old grandson Jeremiah.

He told Williams he drove by and saw a little boy throwing his ball into the trash can and he wanted to give him a gift.

Williams said Jeremiah loves basketball and plays in a league at their local church. His favorite player is LeBron James.

Editor’s Picks

Nurse fulfills promise to dying patient to be at daughter's nursing school graduation

  • May 06, 2021

Teen gives up college savings to help her mom pay rent

  • Feb 09, 2021

Students sell paper hearts to help 1st grader in need of heart transplant

  • Feb 12, 2021

“Everywhere he goes he totes his little basketball,” Williams said.

“This man was a complete stranger,” Williams said. “I just started crying because it was an angel in disguise.”

Hinkston said he got emotional too.

MORE: This kindergarten class shouts uplifting affirmations inspired by Will.i.am song

“Jeremiah was in the background jumping for joy and she was jumping and I was dropping tears,” Hinkston said. “It was special.”

PHOTO: He totes his little basketball everywhere," Grandmother Patricia Williams says about grandson Jeremiah.
He totes his little basketball everywhere," Grandmother Patricia Williams says about grandson Jeremiah.
Patricia Williams

Jeremiah had a basketball game later that day where he scored 12 points and helped lead his team to victory.

Williams took a picture of Jeremiah and Hinkston and posted it to Facebook where it has gotten thousands of views.

MORE: Ballerina's reaction to pointe shoes matching her skin tone goes viral

HInkston said he has stayed in touch with the family and plans to go back to the house to help them assemble the basketball hoop. His ultimate dream, he said, is to one day fund a nonprofit for the kids in the community so they have activities to do after school.

“You should always be kind. You never know what somebody else is going through,” Hinkston said.

Editor’s Picks

Nurse fulfills promise to dying patient to be at daughter's nursing school graduation

  • May 06, 2021

Teen gives up college savings to help her mom pay rent

  • Feb 09, 2021

Students sell paper hearts to help 1st grader in need of heart transplant

  • Feb 12, 2021
Up Next in Living—

How to watch the last supermoon of 2023

September 26, 2023

What happened at Megan Rapinoe’s final USWNT game

September 25, 2023

Reunite with your cash: How to find out if you have unclaimed money

September 25, 2023

Nearly 50,000 mattresses sold at Costco recalled

September 22, 2023

Up Next in Living—

How to watch the last supermoon of 2023

September 26, 2023

What happened at Megan Rapinoe’s final USWNT game

September 25, 2023

Reunite with your cash: How to find out if you have unclaimed money

September 25, 2023

Nearly 50,000 mattresses sold at Costco recalled

September 22, 2023

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2023 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2023 ABC News