The Town of North Hempstead, in partnership with NBA star Toby Harris and the Harris Organization, will be offering summer basketball clinics that also include instruction in “life skills” to North Hempstead residents at the Yes We Can Community Center in New Cassel. The clinics will run Aug. 17 to 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cost $50.
“I am very excited to be offering this wonderful program to our town’s youngsters this summer because it gives participants the opportunity to hone their interpersonal skills, as well as their physical ones,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “I really love the message of encouraging young people to stay on the right path in life. When that message comes from a role model like Tobias Harris, it means so much.”
The program, The Tobias Harris “School of Business” Basketball Clinic, not only offers youth coaching in the fundamentals of basketball, but also educational, career and interpersonal skills workshops. Campers will get to work on their basketball skills, such as shooting, ball handling and defense, and will also be coached on good health, yoga, nutrition, the food pyramid and career assessment.
Harris’ goal is to make sure that campers learn more than just basketball. Harris said he is “just trying to have the kids take care of business, work hard, have fun, go to class, do the right things, stay on the right path.”
Harris is an NBA player who grew up on Long Island. Harris graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School and began attending the University of Tennessee. After his first year, Harris was the 19th overall draft pick for the NBA and later played for the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to the Orlando Magic.
“I can’t imagine a better investment in a child’s summer than to spend a week at this clinic learning more than basketball skills, but also how to take care of oneself and stay on the right track,” said Councilwoman Viviana Russell. “I hope that our residents will jump at the chance.”
The Yes We Can Community Center is located at 144 Garden St. in New Cassel. To register, call 311.
