Current, former pros host ‘high school combine’
July 9, 2012 in Cover Story, High School, Professional
Led by Greg Burks, a former Flint Northern and Prairie View A&M star who played seven professional seasons in Europe, and NFL player Chris Wilson, a group of current and former professional basketball players hosted a first-ever basketball skills combine in Flint to help prepare high school players for the level of work expected of college and professional athletes on Saturday.
ABC 12 had the above video report and Eric Woodyard of the Flint Journal had this story:
After struggling to make it through a drill that forced the athletic wingman to make 10 consecutive dunks after picking the ball up from the ground and drop stepping to the middle, Powell quickly realized the intensity level that he was being asked to produce at.
“It was tough because I got tired after the first 10 dunks,” said Powell, a member of Saginaw High School’s Class A championship team this season. “I like coming and working out with new people. I’ve never met some of them but by me working hard in the drills they’re going to like me.”
Powell and other players were also treated to powerful speeches by former Michigan State All-Americans Mateen Cleaves and Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors).
“Flint and Saginaw are so similar so I just like talking to the kids that are sitting in the same seats that I sat in,” said Green, a native of Saginaw who was recently drafted by the Golden State Warriors. “It’s my passion talking to kids so I was just blessed to have the opportunity to talk with them today.”
Among the other pros who helped put kids through drills and gave advice were Lamar Rice, William Hatcher, Marquise Gray and Kelvin Torbert.
[...] and college players in the summers when he was home from Germany, continues to work with youth. Burks hosted a high school combine that featured many professional players from Flint in July. At the combine, they ran high school [...]