“I love kids,” Knicks center Jerome James said. “It’s grown-ups I’m not so sure about. And knowing these kids’ situation, coming here is particularly special.” Children’s Village is New York State’s largest resident facility for at-risk youth, currently housing and educating 249 children on its beautiful campus.

“This reminds me of a lot of the situations I came up in,” said James. “To see a place like this rather than the police chasing you down the street, or hanging out on the corner by the graveyard…This is a nice facility. It’s wonderful. It’s a blessing. It gives my heart joy to see this.”

James, Quentin Richardson, along with rookies Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, Knicks legend Michael Ray Richardson and New York Liberty All-Star Kym Hampton, gave a fun, in-depth basketball clinic to about 70 beyond-enthusiastic kids. “They learn so much,” Coach Graves said with a smile. “I tell them similar things all the time. But, somehow, when Jerome, or Renaldo, or Michael Ray shows them, it just sinks in that much more.”

The Children’s Village Hawks play in a traditional high school league for the first time this season, sporting a 6-7 record. “Basketball means everything to these children,” said Graves. “It’s a way to express their emotions, the way to get in shape, be competitive, disciplined, learn a new craft. Those are key ingredients to the whole life process for them.”

“We have success stories every day,” added Graves. “This year we have two players – Emmanuel Cobbs and Antoine Robertson -- who will go to college on scholarships, possibly even basketball scholarships. They are our cornerstones and will be our trail blazers for the future. Dedication, commitment to others, a work ethic, they are among the things they adopt through basketball that will serve them well through life.”

“The kids feel that they can relate to these players. The Knicks visit gives them a sense of courage, a sense of hope, shows them that someone -- even someone at that level -- cares about them.”

The players got down to business at five stations all around the gym, featuring shooting, ball-handling, rebounding, and agility skills, as well as the fundamentals of defense. James, who was having a great time like a (very) big kid himself, soon became the center (of attention), as every kid wanted to beat the towering seven-footer to the hoop. “You absorb contact this way,” he’d body up on one 14-year old after another, teaching defensive technique. One kid finally scored on him. “I can’t even say how I feel,” he glowed. “This is unbelievable.”

Following the clinic, the players answered the students’ questions. “What makes you so great?” “Hard work, dedication, never giving up on yourself. And practice,” said James. “What motivated you to get to the NBA?” “When I was growing up in Chicago, I was watching Michael Jordan all the time,” replied Richardson. “That did it.” “What is it like to be in the NBA?” “It’s hard,” smiled Collins. “But, at the end of the day, it’s the best job in the world. I love it.”

Then finally, the big one: “Can the Knicks win the NBA championship?” “The way this team was put together, I really believe that within the next couple of years, we can make a run at it,” smiled James.

The players visited the kids’ cottages next, sharing dinner with the proud residents. After signing autographs and handing out Knicks goodie bags to everyone, James had some world championship advice for all the new Knicks fans: “Follow your dreams,” he said. “But don’t put everything, all your hopes, in one single basket. Study hard and work hard so you’ll have options. Basketball is a wonderful way to make a living but it’s not the only way. So make the right choices now so you’ll have all kinds of choices available to you in the future.”