Patroons at Harriet Gibbons School
November 20, 2007 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Albany Patroons News Release
On Monday, November 19, 2007, members of the Albany Patroons basketball team met students at Albany's Harriet Gibbons School, talking to the students about basketball, education, life experiences and positive reinforcement.
Students at Albany's ninth grade facility were greeted that afternoon by several Patroons stars, including team scoring leaders Jamaal Miller and Chad Timberlake, high-flying Shawn Hawkins, veterans Nat Burton and Dajan Smith, and UAlbany star (and Albany native) Lucious Jordan. The event, held at the Harriet Gibbons campus on 75 Watervliet Avenue, was a start of a partnership between the Patroons and Harriet Gibbons School, whose principal, Anthony Clement, played for the Patroons at the start of the 1990-91 season.
During the hour-long session, the Patroons talked about choices in life, and what it took for them to choose long-term education solutions over short-term goals, and to avoid gangs. "I grew up in Washington, D.C.," said Patroons guard Nat Burton to the students, "and by the time I was 16, fourteen of my friends were dead from gang violence."
"I remember some teammates in college who didn't study or stick with their goals," said Patroons guard Lucious Jordan, "and now they're working at Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme. All that talent they had, and now they're 24 years old and working at Krispy Kreme. Don't let that happen to you."
After the meeting, the students received tickets for an upcoming Patroons home game, and several of the students expressed an interest in working with the team, to learn more about basketball operations both on and off the court.
The Harriet Gibbons High School, a learning community of Albany High School, is a ninth-grade preparatory program that serves up to 200 students in an environment with intensive academic programs and support.
The Albany Patroons, a member of the Continental Basketball Association, are currently in defense of their 2007 American Conference championship.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from November 20, 2007
- Patroons at Harriet Gibbons School - Albany Patroons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
