Rob Yanders Memorial Game 2026 - Thank you!

We are once again humbled and grateful following the 2026 Rob Yanders Memorial Basketball Game

“I was impressed,” said Rob Yanders’ wife, Jen Yanders, about the Memorial Game and day last weekend. “I didn’t think that many kids would show up. Three years is a long time.”

We had a wonderful turnout and, unsurprisingly, some great basketball last Saturday for the 2026 Rob Yanders Memorial Game. Rob passed in 2023, meaning this was the third time we have held the game, though there were some emotional hoops played near the time of his service in ‘23 also.

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The Basketball Movement, Yanders Law, and We Are United prep families are large and continue growing each year. Particularly since Rob’s passing, we have felt the true weight and breadth of his impact through stories told through tears and laughs.

Rob always wanted a basketball family, and he certainly got one.

We were also impressed with the number of younger players who showed up to play and show respect, understanding the importance of who Rob was not only for hoops but for the entire Midwest community.

There were young players, old players, and (Rob was at it long enough), old-old players with families and kids of their own. Young guys were eager to take a crack at the older guys, and the older guys were more than ready to show them what it means to be a vet of a Rob Yanders-led program.

“The whole thing was about appreciation and love,” Jen says. “I am shocked at how people keep showing up for us. Rob would be proud of what he built. He invested, and they still care. It means the world to me and sets such a great example for my kiddos who get to see it all. It is a blessing.”

Thank you to everyone who came out to remember and to celebrate. What Rob built is still in action today through young, active players who play the right way and through alumni and friends who are leaders and driven, top-notch people in their communities.

Please continue to support Rob’s work - Get yourself or your young ones in the gym for workouts, try out for Yanders Law AAU hoops, follow us and interact on socials, and reach out any time to see how you can get involved. We love you all!

Legacy

What we can learn from the legacy of Rob Yanders.

Sometimes, when you are building something, you do not have time to step back and appreciate it. Robert Yanders knew what he was building and completed much more than he likely even knew.

What was he building? More than a professional basketball training facility, AAU program, or prep school. He was building a family and a brother and sisterhood of ambitious leaders, competitors, community members… He was building better people.

Since Rob’s tragic passing, the Springfield, Milwaukee, and basketball communities have paused to behold his works. In his time with us that was entirely too short, Rob managed to create a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals.

“Legacy” is the long-lasting impact of a person’s life. If Rob had any desire to have a legacy, we can all certainly agree that he achieved his goal.

He was not done building, but he did leave behind his blueprints. If you want to leave a legacy, you have now seen what it takes.

You do not have to be an NBA star to use basketball (or any other sport) as a tool. If you have a passion, you can use it to grow others around you. It is not an easy path - nothing is given. Do right by others, work hard, take care of your own, work harder, and do not give up on your dream.

Rob would want each of us to leave a legacy when we are no longer here. Keep that in mind throughout this week as you go to school, work, or the gym. Then, keep it going for the next month, then a year. Keep Rob’s fire going.

The Rob Yanders legacy was making people better. If you are reading this, he likely did that for you. Return the favor and KEEP ROB’S FIRE GOING.

LEGACY

Rob's story

A reminder that we are asking for stories, testimonies, and photos from everyone’s experience with Rob.

As we had mentioned previously on social media, Rob’s wife, Jen, has a favor to ask!

To help Isaiah and Ella understand who their father truly was, has Jen asked that you email any personal stories, testimonies, kind words, and/or pictures to yanderslegacy@gmail.com. This will be made into a book for Jen and the kids.

We know so many of you had moving things to share about Rob already, but it was such an overflow of support that there simply was not enough time to fully appreciate it.

Thank you all for the overwhelming love. We each had an idea of what Rob was doing on-and-off the court, but to see the significance of that impact all at once has been staggering and beautiful. We would love for his children to see that as well.

Again, the email is yanderslegacy@gmail.com

Thank you again!

Legacy

What we can learn from the legacy of Rob Yanders.

Sometimes, when you are building something, you do not have time to step back and appreciate it. Robert Yanders knew what he was building and completed much more than he likely even knew.

What was he building? More than a professional basketball training facility, AAU program, or prep school. He was building a family and a brother and sisterhood of ambitious leaders, competitors, community members… He was building better people.

Since Rob’s tragic passing, the Springfield, Milwaukee, and basketball communities have paused to behold his works. In his time with us that was entirely too short, Rob managed to create a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals.

“Legacy” is the long-lasting impact of a person’s life. If Rob had any desire to have a legacy, we can all certainly agree that he achieved his goal.

He was not done building, but he did leave behind his blueprints. If you want to leave a legacy, you have now seen what it takes.

You do not have to be an NBA star to use basketball (or any other sport) as a tool. If you have a passion, you can use it to grow others around you. It is not an easy path - nothing is given. Do right by others, work hard, take care of your own, work harder, and do not give up on your dream.

Rob would want each of us to leave a legacy when we are no longer here. Keep that in mind throughout this week as you go to school, work, or the gym. Then, keep it going for the next month, then a year. Keep Rob’s fire going.

The Rob Yanders legacy was making people better. If you are reading this, he likely did that for you. Return the favor and KEEP ROB’S FIRE GOING.

LEGACY

Life Through Sport - The Basketball Movement

The Basketball Movement is launching a new program to teach young people and athletes life lessons through sports.

A basketball and sports-centered curriculum is the perfect tool to teach life lessons. Sports are relatable, engaging, and fun. They capture those involved and those who watch like little else can in our world. The Basketball Movement has always stressed the importance of being a good teammate, family member, and friend as well as valuable member of society. Now, we are taking that to the next level.

Enter: Life Through Sport. At TBM, we love basketball. Beyond that, we love player development and even more so - people development. It is important to love the game because it will push individuals to unlock their potential as players. There are so many life lessons to be learned from basketball though, that we want to highlight the important carryovers into everyday life. That is what Life Through Sport is all about.

Players of all ages can benefit from the Life Through Sport curriculum at The Basketball Movement. The courses are applicable to grade school players that still have much to learn all the way up to NBA-level guys that need reminders and advice on what it means to be purpose-driven and kind.

Life Through Sport will involve mini discussions, group workshops, and patented motivational speaking by The Basketball Movement’s Founder, Rob Yanders.

The first course of the program will be “Legacy”. The keys will be character, responsibility, preparation, purpose, sacrifice, and more. The takeaways from this new curriculum will give players a head-start compared to other athletes. There will be more specifics on Legacy and the program as a whole coming very soon.

“The person is the player” as Rob says, which means that performance on the court is often a reflection of your attitude in life. Your life can affect your game, but, The Basketball Movement is going to teach how your game can affect your life.

Stay tuned for more details about Life Through Sport as The Basketball Movement continues to strive to help our players reach their full potential on and off the court. Thanks for being along for the ride.