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February 11, 2005

North and South Carolina Natives Chosen For 2004-05 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Team

The Bobcats recognized five youth basketball members and their families prior to the team's game against the Miami Heat on Friday, February 11. The youth were honored for being chosen to represent the Charlotte Bobcats and Charlotte Sting on the 2004-05 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Team.

“These players were selected because of their efforts both on and off the basketball court,” said LaRita Barber, Bobcats and Sting vice president of community relations. “We are proud of our local young athletes for being chosen for the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Team out of over 600,000 participating players.”

The program recognizes male and female youth basketball players from Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA member leagues throughout the country who are skilled basketball players, great teammates and exemplify good sportsmanship and leadership on the court, in the classroom and in their communities.

The Charlotte Bobcats and Sting Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Team consists of:

  • Kassidy Burr (Cleveland Athletic Association, Selma, NC)
  • Aubrey Davis (Park Sharon Athletic Association, Charlotte, NC)
  • Shaikel Davis (Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Buncombe County, Asheville, NC)
  • Blake Cameron Earle (Seneca Recreation Department, Seneca, SC)
  • David Thompson (Cleveland Athletic Association, Selma, NC)

    Every Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA league director across the country had the opportunity to nominate one boy and one girl in their program, ages 11-12. From there, a national selection committee chose Regional and National Team members. The committee was made up of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA officials, NBA and WNBA team representatives including the Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand, selected regional youth sports administrators, representatives from the program co-presenters Nike and Gatorade and ESPN commentator and Basketball Hall-of-Famer, Bill Walton.

    The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program presented by Gatorade and Nike provides recreational youth basketball leagues with free access to a variety of valuable membership programs, including an Instructional Curriculum for players, parents, coaches and officials. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is endorsed by the Youth Basketball Partnership, made up of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Recreation and Parks Association, National Police Athletic Leagues, Jewish Community Centers of North America and Basketball Canada. These organizations also support the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA by serving as a communication link to local member leagues.

    The cornerstone of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program is the instructional guidebook provided free to all players, parents, coaches and officials from member leagues. The program components have been created by a distinguished group of experts, including nationally-recognized youth sports expert Rick Wolff, nutritionist Dr. Jackie Berning, the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), and the Jr. NBA/ Jr. WNBA Advisory Council, which is made up of Ray Allen (Seattle SuperSonics), Mike Bibby (Sacramento Kings), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tina Thompson (Houston Comets), Doc Rivers (Head Coach Boston Celtics), Danny Crawford (NBA Official), Lisa Mattingly (WNBA Official), Suzie McConnell Serio (Head Coach Minnesota Lynx) and Bill Walton (Hall-of-Famer and ESPN analyst).