Twin Falls Officer Organizes ‘You Are Loved’ Basketball Tournament to Fund Suicide Prevention
A Twin Falls school resource officer is channeling Mental Health Awareness Month into community action, organizing a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise funds for suicide prevention resources across the Magic Valley.
Officer Kyle Skuza, an SRO at Magic Valley High School, grew up in Twin Falls and has spent more than two decades missing a community basketball tournament that once drew players and spectators of all ages to the city park during Western Days celebrations. When that event disappeared, Skuza decided to bring something like it back — this time with a purpose beyond the game.
Filling a Community Gap On and Off the Court
The “You Are Loved” 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is scheduled for this Saturday at Twin Falls High School, featuring three age brackets: 12 to 14, 15 to 17, and 18 and older. The entry fee is $50 per team, with all proceeds directed toward expanding suicide prevention services in the region.
Skuza said his years on the front lines of crisis response opened his eyes to a serious gap in the local mental health system. Officers are typically the first point of contact when someone is experiencing a suicidal crisis — but once that immediate moment passes, the path to follow-up care can be frustratingly slow.
“As an officer, we go to the crisis first,” Skuza said. “But then we don’t have anything for three months until they see counseling or we actually get the end of it.”
That three-month window between crisis intervention and professional counseling is exactly what Skuza hopes to help close. Funds raised from the tournament will go to Magic Valley Suicide Awareness, a local organization that works to bridge that gap by connecting individuals in crisis with emergency access to services through Chance for Change.
“They can get in right away to bridge that gap,” Skuza said, describing how the organization provides emergency counseling appointments rather than putting vulnerable individuals on a months-long waiting list.
A Tradition Skuza Hopes Will Grow
Beyond this year’s event, Skuza envisions the tournament becoming an annual fixture in the Twin Falls community — a way to keep the conversation about mental health and suicide prevention alive throughout the year while reviving the spirit of community competition he remembers from his youth.
“Western Days had the 3-on-3 tournament,” Skuza recalled. “It would be surrounding the whole city park — all ages — and it was a blast.”
The initiative reflects a growing trend among Idaho law enforcement officers who are taking proactive roles in community wellness, not just emergency response. Skuza’s work as a school resource officer at Magic Valley High School already places him at the intersection of youth development and public safety — a position that has given him firsthand insight into the mental health pressures young people face.
Teams must register by Thursday evening to secure a guaranteed spot in the tournament. Organizers encourage families and community members to attend and support the cause, even those not participating in the competition.
Idaho consistently ranks among states with elevated suicide rates, and rural communities like those across Twin Falls County often face compounded challenges — fewer mental health providers, longer wait times, and greater social stigma around seeking help. Local grassroots efforts like this tournament play an important role in raising both funds and awareness where state and federal resources fall short.
For more on public safety news across Twin Falls County, including recent law enforcement developments such as the appointment of a new chief deputy at the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office, visit Twin Falls County News. For statewide coverage, visit Idaho News.
What Comes Next
The “You Are Loved” 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is set for this Saturday at Twin Falls High School. Team registration closes Thursday night. All proceeds benefit Magic Valley Suicide Awareness and its partnership with Chance for Change to provide emergency mental health access across the Magic Valley. Skuza has expressed his intention to make this an annual community event, with hopes that future tournaments will draw even greater participation and funding.