The Jr. NBA/ Jr. WNBA 2009 All-Star Celebration

By: Allison Leach, Jrsuns.com
Posted: March 3rd, 2009

On February 12th, during NBA 2009 All-Star Week, the Jr. Suns/Jr. Mercury program participated in one of the largest Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA events in the history of the program; the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA All-Star Youth Basketball Celebration.

The event began its festivities at the newly finished Boys and Girls Club Jerry Colangelo Branch in Central Phoenix. At this club, kids were welcomed by Jerry Colangelo himself at the opening ceremonies. All the NBA/WNBA legends, players, and clinicians were introduced and were excited to be there to celebrate with the kids. As some of the legends and players departed on their caravans, Phoenix Suns forward Louis Amundson, NBA Legend Felipe Lopez, and WNBA Legends Nancy Lieberman and Jennifer Azzi stayed behind to conduct a clinic for the boys and girls at the Colangelo Branch.

After a warm welcome from the Boys and Girls Club members, over 25 NBA Legends and players, WNBA Legends and players, and clinicians went their separate ways on six caravans to different Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs around the valley. This amazing group of talent held clinics at the various locations for Jr. Suns/Jr. Mercury members. The talent included: NBA Legends Bob Lanier, Darryl Dawkins, Otis Birdsong, Terry Porter, Felipe Lopez, Jonathan Bender; Phoenix Suns forwards Louis Amundson and Jared Dudley; Phoenix Suns Alumnus Mark West, WNBA Legends Nancy Lieberman, Jennifer Azzi; WNBA players Tina Thompson, Shanna Crossley, Tangela Smith, Kara Lawson, Cheryl Ford; and D-League players Joe Crawford, Derrick Byars, Brent Petway, Patrick Ewing, Jr.

Eleven clinics took place over two hours throughout the greater Phoenix area. Over a thousand kids participated in this event making it one of the biggest turnouts in Jr. NBA history. Everyone who participated had a great time and Jr. Suns players learned new skills from the NBA/WNBA greats. A big thank you goes out to all of the YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs that participated and for everyone that took part in such a successful and memorable celebration!

For more information about the camps, please call (602) 594-CAMP or e-mail: Camps@Suns.com.