Freshman year will be a bit different for 14 students from Crenshaw High School.
Some extra guidance will be provided, courtesy of the Lakers, who have paired each student with a mentor as part of the “Adopt a Laker” program.
The 14 mentors — including general manager Rob Pelinka — were selected from within the Lakers organization. They will build relationships with their students throughout the year, checking in on a constant basis and meeting up for Lakers-related activities.
The program tipped off on Jan. 14 at the UCLA Health Training Center, where students and employees met for the first time. They got to know each other, played games on the Lakers court, and even took a tour of the team’s locker room.
Students were then given Lakers gear and tickets to the game against Golden State on Jan. 21.
It was a one-of-a-kind experience for the mentees, who high-fived Lakers players as they ran onto the court and were shown on the STAPLES Center videoboard alongside their mentors.
More events are planned through the rest of the NBA season, as the Lakers mentors seek to provide positive influences in the lives of local students.
