Greenies Play Oak Hill in 'Hoops for Hope' Charity Game
On Friday, January 27 at 7:00pm, Greenies will take on defending national champions Oak Hill Academy. Coached by Steve Smith, Oak Hill has seen 200 Division I players and over thirty players in the NBA, including Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and Rajon Rondo. The Warriors are a combined 236-12 since 2012, and have won eight National Championships. Each of their ten players on this year's roster will be playing Division I basketball. Christ School has three players in the NBA, Mason, Miles, and Marshall Plumlee, and over twenty Division I basketball players.
The game supports Access2Success, the foundation that brought Greenies Justice Ajogbar and Wisdom Asaboro to Christ School. A2S is a nonprofit that works to provide sustainable programs and generate positive change for Nigerian children and their families. A2S was founded by former basketball player and Davidson College graduate Andrew Lovedale in 2010. During his college basketball career, Lovedale realized that shoes, which costed more than a month's salary in Nigeria, were an abundant commodity in America. "Faith, athletics and education made the difference in my life. I wanted to create opportunities for the youth of my country to grow in the same ways," says Lovedale.
Wisdom and Justice both note the influence basketball has had on their lives. In Nigeria, it is uncommon for a student to be both a scholar and an athlete. Christ School provides an opportunity for Wisdom and Justice to be both.
"Basketball has taught me that whenever you want to do something and put your mind to it, you can do it," says Wisdom, who started playing the sport at 13.
Attendees of the game are highly encouraged to bring new or like new athletic shoes to donate. A2S will ship these shoes to Nigeria to distribute to A2S Basketball Camps across the country. Those who donate one pair of shoes plus $5 to cover the cost of shipping will receive an official event t-shirt. If you are unable to bring shoes to donate, we will also be accepting cash donations. A donation of $25 will also earn a t-shirt, and will send a child to an A2S Basketball Camp for one week.
The game will also feature a raffle for a basketball signed by Oak Hill and Christ School players and coaches. Raffle tickets are $5, and you may enter as many times as you wish. Proceeds from the raffle will go directly to the cost of shipping the donated shoes to Nigeria.
If you would like to attend the game, get your tickets online now! If you are unable to attend, you may also make a donation online.
