MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Matt Bostic is on a mission to set a new world record, and he’s doing it for a good cause.
Bostic, the team chaplain for the Birmingham Squadron, will make basketball free throws for 24 straight hours. When the countdown ends, the Montgomery man is hoping he’ll have made the 22,000 shots it takes to break the world record. But it’s not really even about him. It’s about others, and that 22,000-mark is more than a number. It holds real symbolism.
Bostic’s mission is to support Life House Alabama, a nonprofit organization with a mission to fight recidivism, the re-incarceration of individuals in the criminal justice system. That 22,000 free shots number? It’s symbolic of the estimated number of people who were free but, for some reason or another, ended up back in jail or prison in just the last year.
Bostic set a $200,000 goal for his “Shoot for Life House” campaign, and he’s well on his way to making a difference. As of Thursday, he’s raised more than $66,000! All donations raised through the chaplain’s efforts will go toward providing housing facilities for people at Life House Alabama, where Bostic serves as president.
The Indiana native grew up playing basketball and continued in college. It’s a passion he’s used for the greater good.
“Basketball’s been a part of my life forever,” he explained, “and if I can do something that I love for somebody that I love, it’s what stirs the passion inside of me. It’s what makes me want to get out of bed every single morning.”
This isn’t Bostic’s first 24-hour marathon for a hoops record, and if he gets to that 22,000-mark, he’ll beat the previous world record holder, who happens to be himself.
“Last time I shot 91% for the 24 hours, and so we’re hoping to bump that up a little bit,” he said, aiming for about 93% on his latest attempt.
The record-setting fun starts at 3 p.m. Friday and runs until 3 p.m. Saturday in the gymnasium at Saint James in Montgomery. That’s located at 9045 Vaughn Road.
In addition to being the current world record holder for free throws made in 24 hours (20,500), Bostic also set the world record for three-pointers made in 24 hours (6,272) back in 2005.
Bostic joined the Squadron, the NBA G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans, prior to the 2023-24 season.
For more information on this event, or to learn more about Life House Alabama, contact Matt Bostic at matt.bostic@thelifehouse.fm.
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