The Good Neighbor Assist: State Farm® Red Nets™ Expands Across Greater Phoenix

There’s something unmistakable about the sound of a basketball dropping cleanly through a net.

The swish tells a player the shot was good. For kids gathering for a pickup game at recess or meeting friends at a neighborhood court, the sound is a small part of what makes the game feel complete.

And those courts can mean much more than a game. They’re places to meet up with friends, learn to play and pick up a few lessons along the way about teamwork, competition and being part of something.

But when a hoop is missing its net, something familiar is missing: that unmistakable swish.

In neighborhoods throughout Peoria, Arizona, in suburban Phoenix, State Farm® agent Justin Gemoll is helping bring that sound back.

This October, more than 220 State Farm Red Nets™ are being delivered to 23 elementary schools and nearby parks, giving local students more places to play and more chances to hear that satisfying swish.

For Gemoll, the effort is about much more than basketball nets.

“Sports have been a huge part of my life, and I’ve seen firsthand how they can bring people together, build confidence and create relationships that last well beyond the field or court,” said Gemoll. “That’s what I love about Red Nets. Something as simple as putting a net on a basketball hoop can help create a place where kids want to play, families can gather and a community can connect.”

Bringing Back the Swish

Gemoll’s connection to sports stretches back decades.

Before becoming a State Farm agent, he spent seven seasons playing professional baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization and more than a decade coaching in the organization. He was a minor league coach in the Royals system during its 2015 World Series championship season and later joined the Grand Canyon University baseball coaching staff.

Those experiences showed him what can happen when people have a place to play, compete and connect.

His State Farm office has also developed strong relationships throughout Peoria, including partnerships with the Peoria Police Department on community events such as the annual Shop with a Cop program and the inaugural Unified Citizens Academy supporting Special Olympics.

When the opportunity arose to expand State Farm Red Nets locally, those relationships helped Gemoll and his team connect with School Resource Officers, who understood where new nets could have an impact.

Together, they identified 23 elementary schools and nearby parks in the Peoria Unified School District. Deliveries of more than 220 Red Nets began in late September and continued into early October.

“I’m grateful to be part of a community that shows up for one another, on and off the court,” said Gemoll. “Red Nets is a reminder that even a small improvement can create another reason for kids to get outside, play together and feel connected to their community.”

The Good Neighbor Spirit in Action

Earlier this year, State Farm installed four Red Nets at parks across Glendale, Arizona. After seeing the program in action, city leaders identified additional courts that could benefit from new nets. The newly renovated Bonsall Park North became the first stop in a broader citywide installation.

Gemoll joined State Farm representatives, local leaders and families in late September at Bonsall Park North in Glendale where the sound of basketballs hitting the court and dropping through newly installed nets helped mark the next chapter of the program.

“At State Farm, being a Good Neighbor means showing up in ways that matter to the communities we serve,” said Sonya Robinson, Area Vice President. “Justin saw an opportunity to bring Red Nets to even more local kids and helped turn a national initiative into something meaningful right here in the Valley.”

It was a simple scene: a basketball, a hoop and a net. But soon, those courts will be filled with kids meeting up with friends, taking their shots and hearing the swish that makes the game feel complete.

That’s what State Farm Red Nets is ultimately about – supporting the places where people come together, learn to play and, for some, first fall in love with the game.