Program Provides Role Models
February 27, 2003 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 27, 2003) - Everyone needs a helping hand now and then, someone to turn to, and someone who's been there and done that. Even the biggest and strongest of athletes need guidance at times, and the purpose of the National Basketball Development League's Mentoring Program is to provide just that.
"The NBDL Mentoring Program provides players with opportunities to establish relationships and interact with former NBA players and local businessmen who have accomplished the same goals the player is seeking to achieve," said Dr. Janice Hilliard, the NBDL's director of player programs and the administrator of the mentoring program.
NBDL mentors include six former NBA players who are also successful in post-basketball ventures, as well as a CEO of a local Boys and Girls Club and a City Councilman. The mentors interact generally with the team in their local market, as well as directly with one player on each roster through weekly phone calls and at least monthly in-person contacts.
One NBDL mentor, Roanoke, Va., councilman Alfred Dowe, is a regular fixture in the courtside seats at the Roanoke Civic Center during Dazzle games and interacts on a regular basis not only with Dazzle forward Geoff Owens, but with the entire team and front office staff.
"Geoff (Owens) has been a joy to work with and we have spent a lot of time together," Dowe said. "We (NBDL mentors) just want to help guys like Geoff be as successful off the court as they are on the court."
Hilliard said the purpose of the NBDL Mentoring Program is four-fold.
"We want to provide networking opportunities for our players, provide career-related information, assist players with personal and career development plans, as well as provide positive role models," Hilliard said. "The goal is to promote life skills development in the players, serve as resources and help our players understand and negotiate the business of basketball."
Mentors strive to interact with players in a variety of settings, Hilliard said. Those could include taking the players out for a meal, inviting them to their homes or workplaces, as well as helping the players identify local summer job and internship opportunities.
The NBDL's leading scorer, Nate Johnson of the Columbus Riverdragons, said his relationship with former NBA player, Atlanta businessman and mentor Charlie Criss has been "real good for me this season."
"I have been playing well and still haven't received a callup (to the NBA)," Johnson said. "Charlie has kept me positive. He has been encouraging, reminding me to work hard and keep focused on my goals."
Mobile Revelers rookie Rod Grizzard and North Charleston swing man Ime Udoka both echoed Johnson's sentiment. Grizzard and Udoka are both mentored by former NBA players, Tom Hammonds in Mobile and Ty Corbin in North Charleston.
"It's good to have a casual conversation with a former player who has been in my situation," Grizzard said. "It has really helped me to learn about myself, as well as how to deal with problems a rookie may encounter."
"The program is good because it gives a young player like me an NBA veteran to talk to and get advice from," Udoka said. "They went through the same situations, and can give advice on a lot of things young players go through on and off the court."
Current NBA players Mike Wilks of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tremaine Fowlkes of the Los Angeles Clippers are former NBDL players who took advantage of the Mentoring Program. Wilks remained in Huntsville, Ala., over last summer to work with Flight Mentor Melvin Allen, who is the CEO of the Huntsville Boys and Girls Club. Wilks efforts with the club were featured on the television show Inside Stuff last summer.
While the mentors are available to all players on NBDL rosters, one player from each team is selected by the NBDL Player Programs staff in conjunction with the team's coaching staffs to participate in the program on a more individualized basis.
The current season's players and mentors are:
Team NBDL Player NBDL Mentor
Asheville Ron Rollerson Bobby Jones (former NBA player)
Columbus Nate Johnson Charlie Criss (former NBA player)
Fayetteville Jameel Watkins Jim McMillian (former NBA player)
Greenville Greg Gray Mike Morrison (former NBA player)
Huntsville Rodney Bias Melvin Allen (CEO Boys and Girls Club)
Mobile Rod Grizzard Tom Hammonds (former NBA player)
North Charleston Ime Udoka Ty Corbin (former NBA player)
Roanoke Geoff Owens Alfred Dowe (Roanoke City Councilman)
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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.
