ORDER ON THE COURT
Soon-to-be NBA players make their pitch for fitness
BEFORE they officially became professional basketball players at Thursday night’s 2012 NBA draft, some of the top prospects spent time educating a group of Harlem youngsters about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
The kids, members of the Children’s Aid Society Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club on W. 118th St., got to spend an hour with the players on Wednesday, learning both basketball and fitness skills.
The star-laden group included the top projected pick, power forward Anthony Davis and his Kentucky teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, as well as North Carolina products Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes; Florida’s Bradley Beal; Kansas Jayhawk Thomas Robinson, and Duke shooting guard Austin Rivers and more.
Barnes, who was projected to be a top-five pick, spoke about the event’s impact.
“When I was in a Boys & Girls club we didn’t have all this,” he said. “It’s great; it really helps the kids.”
The event was organized by NBA Fit, a league-sponsored health and wellness outreach program aimed at encouraging healthy behaviors.
NBA Hall of Famer Bob Lanier was also on hand Wednesday, speaking about the importance of the fitness.
“. . . (It’s) not just because you are an athlete, but something you can do now to prepare for a lifetime,” the former Detroit Piston told the kids.
The soon-to-be pros ran the 100 enthusiastic kids through va r ious d r il ls a nd f it ness exercises. Beal, the Gators’ 6-4 shooting guard, said enjoyed the experience.
“Just laughing and playing with (the kids),” he said between drills. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Christopher Paulino, 9, said he was elated to take part, and had little trouble recounting what he’d learned.
“You have to work hard,” he said. “And you have to keep your grades up if you want to make it from school to the NBA.”