A mother’s NBA dream
PAMELLA BENNETT is the mother of seven-footer Shevon Thompson, the former Vere Technical basketball standout turned pro. Though Shevon played in Junior College at Harcum College, Division 1 at George Mason, and for Eerie Bayhawks in the NBA D League, which is the Minor league for the NBA, his mother has never seen him play. She has become a huge fan of basketball, watching every game that airs and calling his mentor and manager to break down Shevon’s game as if she had been a basketball mom all her life.
She raised him and his brother, Gavon Thompson, as a single mother, though they both have a relationship with their father. She has worked as a dressmaker when her kids were growing up and now works in St Maarten with a janitorial company assigned to a university. Bennett tried to go and see him once, but was denied a visa by the US Embassy and, unfortunately, never got the opportunity to express that it was her son’s college game she was trying to attend. She is hopeful that she will be able to catch his games in Orlando, as he plays for the Orlando Magic in this summer’s NBA Summer League. She has worked and resided in St Maarten for the past 17 years and comes home two or three times a year to be with family.
FULFILLING HER DREAM
She will make another attempt to go and see her son play, as it would fulfil a dream for both her and him. Seeing the star players like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant getting the support of their mothers throughout their careers and at the games is something Shevon has longed for and hopes this time they will recognise her and the reason she wants to visit.
The NBA Summer League in Orlando runs from July 1 to 7 and will be televised. The schedule is available at NBA.com
Shevon Thompson was also invited to play for the LA Clippers, who are playing in the Vegas Summer League from July 7 to 17.