NBA D-League Basketball Clinic at Port Isabel Junior High

Players from the NBA’s D-League Bakersfield Jam and the NBA’s D-League front office put on a basketball clinic for the girls and boys student-athletes.  The clinic not only focused on basketball skills but on students’ physical and mental fitness as well. Students participated in six different stations including jump rope, ladder, knock-out, ball handling, bean bag race, and ball crunches.  Savannah Sharpe, an 8th grade basketball player, asked if “they could show her how to dunk.”  Mr. Lopez, an ex-NBA player from the San Antonio Spurs, gave the reins to former NCAA 2010 Dunk Champ Marqus Blakely.  After Marqus slammed the ball down it was now Savannah’s turn.  She did her best and was cheered on by the players.    At the end of the clinic, students were able to ask the players some questions about what it takes to be a professional basketball player.  The players emphasized the importance of education and explained how basketball is different than other sports in that they must attend college before being drafted into the NBA.  Students were thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from these talented players.  “I can’t believe they took time out of their schedules to come help us,” 7th grader Jonathan Garza said.                                        (Courtesy Photo)