By Angela M. Coggs
A free basketball clinic was recently held in San Bernardino with former NBA player Bryon Russell returning to his alma mater, San Bernardino High School. Russell volunteered his time and promised that the event would be “the first of many”. The event was called the, “Berdoo Basketball Bonanza.”
Although the event was open to the first 200 elementary and middle school students who pre-registered through the SBCUSD Creative After Schools Programs for Success (CAPS) program, walk-ins were also welcome to participate. It was a good turnout. Some parents stayed and enjoyed watching their children take part in the clinic. Parents were also given the opportunity to sign up for tutoring during check-in.
The day consisted of two sessions, one morning and one afternoon. The two-hour sessions focused on placing education and school as priorities and being student athletes. The children in attendance were given a chance to learn from former students as well as given tips to hone their basketball skills by Russell and the other coaches that were present including SBHS boys’ basketball coach, Darin Graham. “The most valuable resource I can give is my time, said Graham, who looks forward to organizing this event three to four times a year. “We want the kids to have fun”. Coach Graham was the driving force behind this event.
After the initial welcome introduction and exercise drills conducted by Jeremiah Tardy, boys basketball coach at Arroyo Valley High School, the kids were divided and sent to break out sessions according to age. The drills appeared difficult but one would not be able to tell from the sidelines. Coach Tardy made it fun for the kids and they all had smiles on their faces.
Pic of three participants (I quoted all three boys in the article) From left to right, Trayvon Davis, Yonathan Habtemariam, and Kenneth D. Francisco III
While the children practiced, Russell took the time to sign some basketballs and training booklets for the participants. “I had a lot of fun. I learned that school is important if you want to play sports in (high) school,” said Kenneth D. Francisco III, an 8th grade student from Shandin Hills Middle School. He was one of the lucky few students who walked away with a basketball signed by Russell after winning a “Shot Contest”.
There were other coaches who volunteered their time to fulfill a common and positive goal. “I believe the event was very successful,” said Cassandra Williams, girls’ basketball varsity coach at SBHS. “It was a joy to give back to the community and to work with the elementary students who will eventually become high school students.”
Trayvon Davis and Yonathan Habtemariam, both 8th grade students at Richardson Prep Hi, pre-registered through the CAPS program at their school. “I liked how the coaches encouraged the players…if someone messed up they would help them,’ said Davis. The student players who attended the clinic had the opportunity to meet someone who went to school locally and made it to the NBA. “It was a good experience for me,” said Habtemariam. “The coaches stressed the importance of a good education. We could be athletes but we are students first. It was nice to meet Bryon Russell too. It’s cool when players go back to their old neighborhoods. It shows that they care.”
“It’s all about the kids,” said Russell. “I believe in giving back and helping out. As long as I can put a smile on a kid’s face, it makes my day.”
During his senior year Russell helped lead SBHS to a CIF-SS championship in in 1989, and then went to Long Beach State University, where he earned a degree in criminal justice. He played in the NBA for 12 full seasons.
Russell is best known as the player who guarded Michael Jordan when Jordan made the the game-winning basket in Game 6 for the Chicago Bulls in 1998.