 YMCA KnicksMar 3 2009 11:16AM
New York pro's lead youth in b-ball clinics
By Dan Israeli  As part of Madison Square Garden's Jr. Knicks program, retired All-Star Knicks guard John Starks, retired All-Star Liberty center Kym Hampton and current Knicks center Jared Jeffries stopped by the West Side YMCA earlier this week to lead a group of kids in a basketball clinic. Jr. Knicks hosts a series of clinics, which run from January to June at YMCA branches across the Tri-State area. For almost two decades, the program has provided thousands of area children with a great opportunity--to learn the fundamentals of basketball from those who played the game at its highest level. By collaborating with the YMCA of Greater New York, the initiative shares a common goal of keeping kids active in a positive environment, away from the streets and negative influences. Starks, the Knicks Alumni Relations and Fan Development Advisor, understands the importance of the program, and what he can contribute from a former player's standpoint. "I think Jr. Knicks is a great program for keeping kids active," he said. "Basketball transcends a lot of people's lives, especially in New York. Basketball is a way of life up here for the parents on down to the youth. We put the kids in a positive setting where they can interact with their peers. It's exciting to be a part of." Hampton also acknowledged the positive impact the program has had on everyone involved, from herself to the young girls participating. "It makes my day to put a smile on kids faces, to give them the opportunity to do something different, outside of the norm," she said. "It's good for them to see that a woman can play basketball, and I'm hoping the kids, even the boys, gain an appreciation and respect for the WNBA and female athletes in general." Kids participated in a number of drills, from shooting to passing to dribbling, while also working on their conditioning. "Everything we do on the pro level we do over here, keeping it basic," Starks said. "I tell people there is no secret to success, just hard work." Jeffries said that he hopes kids can take something positive out of the experience, no matter how high they excel. "What we're trying to do is the same thing I was raised to do--just have fun with basketball," he said. "My parents never really put a lot of pressure on me to be good at basketball, they wanted me to have fun with it. That's what we want to teach these kids." Lisa Sanguiliano, Senior Director of Healthy Lifestyles for the YMCA of Greater New York, noted that Jr. Knicks will engage over 4,000 kids this year alone, with clinics at facilities throughout the five boroughs. YMCA of Greater New York's Strong Kids Campaign has also raised $5 million to subsidize the program for after-school sites that can't afford the cost. "Through these clinics we are instilling all the core values of the Y--caring, honesty, respect and responsibility--and beyond that, good sportsmanship," Sanguiliano said. "Along with the hands-on athletic skills the kids are learning, they are also building self esteem." 
From the Mar/Apr 2009 issue  |