The feeling of Christmas morning comes every month for Jori Monnich's twin daughters, Emery and Braylin.
Every day after school, the girls ask the same question: "Did my letter come in the mail?"
On the day their letters arrive, the 9-year-olds carefully peel open the envelopes, unveiling handwritten letters from college basketball players. Emery's letters are from Michigan State's Anna Terrian, while Braylin's are from Toledo's Miriam Diala and Malone's Abbey Price.
"It's like Christmas morning, just that ultimate excitement," Monnich said. "It was exciting as a parent to see your child so motivated to read it, correspond and learn about another person similar to them."
Emery (left) and Braylin (right) with their HOOPS letters. (Photos courtesy of Megan Belke)
Monnich's daughters are part of the HOOPS pen pal program. Megan Belke, an assistant women's basketball coach at Malone, created the program to connect girls playing youth basketball with college players.
Each month, the pairs write letters based on themes like leadership, teamwork and goal setting. Belke creates packets for the participants, including cards, conversation starters and stamps. In its inaugural year, the program garnered participation from over 45 college and youth players. With more than 15 college programs involved, over 250 letters have been sent.
"I started HOOPS to help increase youth presence in girls and women's basketball because I wanted to create a pathway to build connections with role models," Belke said.
The program is mutually beneficial, as the girls communicate with players they admire, while the college players mentor and encourage the young athletes.
For Belke, HOOPS is rooted in a simple principle: If you can see it, you can do it.
"Sometimes all it takes is one person to believe in you," she said. "Sometimes a couple words of encouragement can totally change the direction of where you're going."
Belke's basketball roots
Neighbors knew Belke as the little blond girl who shot baskets in her driveway. Starting in fifth grade, the East Grand Rapids, Michigan, native volunteered as her high school women's basketball team's water girl and team manager.
"I thought the high school players were the coolest players in the world," Belke said.
As a kid, Megan Belke took every opportunity to play and be involved with basketball.
At Grand Valley State, Belke was a member of the women's basketball team, which made four trips to the NCAA Division II tournament.
Dominick Melton, Belke's high school coach, remembers her early passion.
"Megan became a sponge. Even when she was a water girl, I could see just an ambition to be a student of the game," he said. "When she played in high school, she took the younger players under her wing and was always a leader. She's always been really, really big on relationships."
Grand Valley State recruited Belke out of high school, and she spent four years as a Laker.
After graduation, Belke became a graduate assistant for Malone, a Division II school in Ohio. She spent three years as a director of basketball operations and assistant coach at Miami (Ohio) before returning to Malone as an assistant coach at the beginning of the current season.
"Basketball has brought me to many different places, and it has helped open many doors and meet a ton of new people," she said. "The most important thing is the people it's led me to."
Belke's players gush about her positive attitude and contagious laugh — and her amazing music playlists at practice. Whether it's rebounding for her players, running extra workouts or chatting in her office, Belke supports her players however and whenever she can.
"Megan has been so influential to our team and myself this season," junior forward Elena Oliver said. "No matter the day, she smiles brighter and more than anyone I know. When I'm in my head or struggling, she looks at me and tells me to smile. She'll tell us what we need to do better, but she'll also be your biggest hype man."
"She reminds us every day why we love the sport," senior center Erin Kaufman added.
Belke spoke on a director of women's basketball operations panel at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association convention at the 2025 Women's Final Four.
"Megan is the assistant coach I always dreamed of having," sophomore forward Katie Kaufman said. "She is a light to be around, always making us laugh and laughing at our sometimes really terrible jokes. She also holds us accountable for the fundamentals that are crucial to winning big games. We're lucky to have Megan in this program and know her as a person."
Malone has had a successful season, compiling a 25-6 record. On Friday, the Pioneers play in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship, the only Division II team in Ohio to make it to the tournament.
Malone head coach Selana Ickes remembers a particular game where a player who had inconsistent playing time made six 3-pointers, securing an important conference win. Ickes said Belke had been that player's support throughout the season, preparing her for that moment.
"Megan helps kids see their potential and pushes them to higher limits than what they think they're capable of," Ickes said.
For Belke, it's the reason she became a coach.
"I love inspiring people to believe in themselves," she said. "Seeing those results come and the joy on their face, you can see the belief they have in themselves."
Creating HOOPS program
Belke created HOOPS on five founding principles: hope, opportunity, optimism, perseverance and success. In addition to the pen pal component, the program includes gear donations, leadership sessions and skills training.
Ashley Sepsey said her 9-year-old daughter, Elliott, adores her pen pal, Michigan State basketball player Theryn Hallock.
"She hasn't stopped talking about getting to talk to, meet and know Theryn. It's been such a special experience," Sepsey said. "It's been so meaningful for the kids to build connections through writing while also strengthening their confidence and communication skills. It's given her something to genuinely look forward to and has inspired her love of the game even more."
Bowling Green's Paige Kohler (left) and Lauren Gerken (right) met their pen pal after a game. "HOOPS allowed me to build a genuine relationship with a young athlete," Kohler said. "One of the highlights was getting to meet her at our game against Kent State."
Michigan State's Theryn Hallock met Elliott after a game. Hallock said, "To read about her interests, struggles, what she does and enjoys was super interesting. To be able to build those connections, meet new people and put a smile on my face made my days better."
"I loved getting to know a young basketball player through our letters and sharing my experiences with her," said Lauren Gerken, a sophomore forward at Bowling Green. "It was so rewarding to know that my words could inspire and motivate someone who shares the same passion for the game as me."
Anyone who knows Belke knows only someone like her could create an impactful program that inspires and empowers both youth and college players.
"HOOPS is Megan," said Monnich, whose daughters are in the pen pal program. "She loves the sport and has been so involved in giving back. Inspiring the youth to help grow the game in the future, it's just got her name written all over it."
If you want to get involved, reach out to hoopsleadership@gmail.com or follow @HOOPSbymb on Instagram or X.
