Jack Young (center) holds his 2026 New England Regional Finals Elks Hoop Shoot trophy with proud parents Jennifer Young (left) and Adam Young (right) after the recent awards banquet in Portland, Me. (Courtesy photo)

NASHUA – For the second time in the last four years of competition, a local youth will compete in the Elks Hoop Shoot Nationals in Chicago.

Nashua’s Jack Young won first place at the New England Regional Finals Elks Hoop Shoot free throw competition last weekend in Portland, Me.

Representing Nashua’s Elks Lodge No. 720, Young placed first in the boys’ 10-11 year old division, sinking 22 of 25 free throws during the regional competition.

At the Regional Finals, Young competed against the state champions from Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The last boy from New Hampshire to make it to the Nationals was Ebuka Okorie in 2018, who is now the starting guard for Stanford University. Nashua’s Lexi McGuire won the Girls 12-13 New England Regional crown and competed in the Nationals three years ago.

Young previously won first place at the New Hampshire State Elks Hoop Shoot competition on Feb. 1 in Franklin. He also won first place at the District competition representing the Southwest District in Portsmouth on January 11, and placed first at the local competition held at Pennichuck Middle School in Nashua in late November.

Young will now represent the New England Region 6 at the Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals on April 18 in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

There, the top free throw shooters from 12 regions across the country will compete for the national title.