With championship basketball coming to Columbus this week, even the youngest of hoopsters were able to get in on the action. Before taking on the Washington Wizards in a preseason game at The Schottenstein Center on Tuesday, the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers first hosted a Cavs Academy Youth Basketball Clinic, presented by IGS Energy, on Monday night.
Snapshots from the events.
Cavs in the Community news.
Approximately 150 local Columbus kids in the first through sixth grades signed up to participate in the skills clinic, which took place in the Women’s Auxiliary Gym at The Schottenstein Center. Cavs assistant coaches led the clinic, with help from players Kay Felder, Jordan McRae, Markel Brown, DeAndre Liggins, Cory Jefferson, John Holland and Jonathan Holmes.
The fun didn’t stop there: many familiar faces from Cavs games were also on-hand Monday, including the team’s in-arena host Ahmaad, PA announcer Olivier, mascot Sir C.C. and several members of the entertainment groups. All participants received a ticket for Tuesday’s game, a full Cavs Academy uniform, a Cavs swag bag and the opportunity to take a photo in the OSU Men’s Basketball locker room.
Also while the Cavs were in town, representatives from the team made a special delivery to the Columbus-area YMCA. In support of their sports programs, the Cavs donated 614 total items (for Columbus’ area code!) that will be shared amongst the 12 full facility branches of the YMCA. Olivier, Sir C.C. and members of the entertainment teams stopped by one of the Y locations to surprise kids there with the items, which consisted of more than 200 various sports’ balls and close to 400 workout items.