Submitted photos – Daniel “Bubba” Landry and Mo Charlo

By Ray Hamill — Mo Charlo knows how important it is to have someone believe in him.

The former Eureka Logger, who is now coaching with the Los Angeles Lakers organization after a pro career that lasted almost two decades, admits he had to overcome a lot of adversity during this formative years and could easily have gone down the wrong path and missed out on the opportunities he has had through basketball.

Now Charlo, along with lifelong friend Daniel “Bubba” Landry, wants to provide the same opportunities for young local players and give them a foundation in the game.

Charlo and Landry have founded the CHOPP Academy (Creating Humboldt’s Own Prominent Prospects), an AAU basketball program that will provide those opportunities and some scholarships for young local boys.

The club was established in 2023 and fielded one team last year, but is looking to expand to four different age groups in 2025.

“We’re trying to keep these kids off the streets and keep it positive,” said Landry, who says he also went through some of the same troubles Charlo did and was also headed down the wrong path, by his own admission. 

“We want to give them a place where they can feel it’s home,” Charlo added. “Somewhere they can come in and feel like it’s a safe haven for them. I think that’s a big thing. It’s not just about the basketball. It’s about creating a family, a brotherhood. To put them in a position to get a chance to want to succeed in life.”

Charlo and Landry know the importance of that through experience.

“Me and Bubba, we’ve gone through so much in our lives to get to where we are,” Charlo said. “But it took a community to show that love. That’s the big thing for us.”

The new club will field teams in 13U, 14U, 15U and 16U with tryouts scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 (1 to 3 p.m.) at Winship Middle School in Eureka.

CHOPP Academy will also be offering a limited number of scholarships for players who can’t afford the traditional AAU route.

“We understand AAU is expensive,” Landry said. “For families that can’t afford it, we have scholarships. We’re looking to reach out to the community to get some sponsorship and do some fundraising to help the underprivileged kids.”

One of their main goals is to show the young players in the area that there are opportunities to succeed through basketball and to help put them on the map, in much the same way Charlo was able to take his talents to the university of Nevada and eventually to pro leagues all over the world, including several stints in the NBA development league.

He is now an assistant coach with the South Bay Lakers, an NBA G League team affiliated with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“We want to give them the opportunity to have that chance,” Charlo said. “Regardless of the circumstances or upbringing, you can always hope to achieve your dreams with hard work and dedication.”

The CHOPP Academy teams will practice locally and compete in tournaments in and out of the area with the season running form March through July.

“This is for everybody,” Landry said. “Just because your family doesn’t have money, you’re not going to get pushed away.”

“Sport was a huge thing for me and Bubba,” Charlo added. “Without basketball, I wouldn’t have been able to play in college. It’s hard. Because that big brother, that father figure, if they don’t have that, it’s hard, and that’s what it’s really about for us. Having that opportunity to succeed.”

“Obviously it’s about basketbalL, but it’s so much bigger than that,” Landry said. “A lot of kids need a lot of guidance.”

According to Charlo and Landry, “100 percent” of the money raised through sponsorships will go towards the basketball operations.

“We’ve been paying out of pocket and we haven’t made a dime,” Landry said. “This is strictly for the kids.”

While Charlo is obviously busy in SoCal with the South Bay Lakers, he remains very hands on with the local AAU program and regularly watches game film with Landry to critique and give his feedback.

He also visits the area as often as possible and attends several local camps every year, including making it to multiple of the CHOPP team’s tournaments in 2024.

“I think the biggest thing for us is reaching out to the community to get them behind this organization,” Landry said. “And to see what we’re doing.”

As for his time with the Lakers organization, Charlo says he’s living the dream and loving every moment of it.

“I’m still in awe,” her said. “I’m just a kid from Humboldt with a dream.”

“We’re proud of him,” Landry said.

For more information on the CHOPP Academy or to donate to the club, you can visit their website here.