From childhood teammates to global mentors: Khilji and Hassan’s journey with Dribble Dreams

As children, Kumail Khilji and Ismail Hassan say they used to sneak into their neighbourhood recreation centre just to get a chance to play sports. Now, the two University of Guelph athletes have broken barriers and opened gym doors for hundreds of kids in Canada and abroad.

Hassan, a guard entering his fourth year with the Gryphons men’s basketball team, and Khilji, a recent graduate and former football player, are co-founders of the Dribble Dreams Foundation. What started as a community camp in 2023 has grown into a global initiative connecting student-athletes with underserved youth.

“Basketball opened so many doors for me,” Hassan said. 

“I’ve had great coaches and mentors who cared about me as a person, not just as an athlete. Being able to pass that on, even if it’s just to one kid, is the most fulfilling thing we can do.”

The two first crossed paths in elementary school, where they shared the floor on their Grade 8 basketball team and the friendship stuck. After years at different high schools, they reconnected in 2021 as incoming Gryphons.

Hassan, still rehabbing from an ACL injury that kept him off the court for more than 1,000 days, was intent on finding ways to give back. Khilji, meanwhile, had been recognized with back-to-back Family Service Awards on the football team. Each had already started small community programs, but together they saw the chance to do something bigger.

By 2023, Hassan had launched Dribble Dreams to “empower youth through basketball,” while Khilji started a flag football initiative in the Greater Toronto Area. A shared vision for accessibility led them to merge efforts and expand globally.

Dribble Dreams’ first summer saw 100 kids register. By 2024, that number doubled, with half the slots reserved for girls-only programming. This past summer, 250 kids took part, including a new high school division. At $50 per participant, compared to $200 to $400 at many other camps, the foundation prioritizes affordability, relying on more than 10 local sponsors and a team of volunteers to keep costs low.

“Our model is low cost, high impact,” Hassan said. 

“We want to remove barriers so any kid can come out, learn, and build relationships.”

On the court, Khilji leads strength and conditioning while Hassan coaches, but both spend time running drills, giving high-fives and cheering on participants. 

“Being on the ground with the kids is one of the most enjoyable aspects,” said Hassan.

Their efforts have also stretched far beyond Guelph. In December 2024, the pair travelled to Kenya to host a basketball mentorship camp. Fifty teenagers were provided with school supplies, hygiene kits and a week of instruction from Canadian and local coaches. The camp raised more than 1 million shillings, which is about $10,000 Canadian, for the neighbourhood, and the two remain in contact with many of the athletes they met.

“Showing up on the first day, you’re strangers,” Khilji said. 

“By the fifth day, you’re part of the community. Basketball broke down the language barrier and brought us together.”

In December, they plan to bring Dribble Dreams to Uganda, including a major project to rebuild the main outdoor court in Kampala. 

“It’s the central hub for basketball in the country, but it’s severely worn down,” said Hassan. 

“We want to make it a lasting resource for the community.”

The drive to give back stems from personal experience. Khilji recalls the challenges his family faced after moving to Canada from Pakistan. In high school, a teammate’s parent sponsored his football fees, an act that left a lasting impression.

“From that moment, it felt like a responsibility was put on me,” said Khilji. 

“If I ever got to the position where I could give back, I would.”

Hassan credits coaches who prioritized his growth off the court, especially after his long injury layoff. 

“Sports taught me resilience,” he said. 

“It’s bigger than wins and losses. It’s about life skills you carry with you.”

Their programs have already touched more than 600 kids in three years, but sometimes the impact is measured in individual stories. Hassan remembers an email from a parent battling cancer, who couldn’t afford sports programs for their child. Dribble Dreams gave that child a place to play, at no cost.

“That’s what it’s all about,” said Hassan. 

“Removing barriers so kids can experience the benefits of sport.”

And both stress the importance of student-athletes giving back while still competing.

“There’s no better time to start than now,” said Khilji. 

“People think they’ll wait until after their career, but you’ll always be busy. Use the skills you’re already developing as an athlete and apply them to something bigger.”

To learn more about Dribble Dreams and how you can support their future initiatives, click here.