By Antwon Gildon
Many young fans dream of one day coming face to face with NBA superstars such as Lebron James or Kobe Bryant. Recently, although it wasn’t “His Airness” or “LBJ,” one New Tampa-area resident and local high school player got the chance to go one-on-one with current Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson.
Paul R. Wharton High sophomore Travyon Gildon was given the opportunity to interview Henson, the 6’11” former Sickles High star, during the Tampa Bay Sports Expo, which was held at the Tampa Convention Center downtown on July 19. Henson averaged 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds this past season, the second of his NBA career and with the Bucks.
Along with Up2Us — a nationwide program that promotes positive youth development through sports — Henson hosted “The John Henson Experience,” a clinic that allowed kids of all ages to learn various skills from Henson and other Up2Us basketball coaches.
During the interview with Henson, it was apparent that Travyon was nervous from the moment they sat down to talk. But Henson, who said he, “wanted to be a lawyer” before choosing a career on a different court, helped the young reporter feel at ease.
Gildon, who last season played guard for both Wharton’s junior varsity & varsity teams, often draws comparisons to his idol Chris Paul, the Los Angles Clippers guard he had the chance to meet a few years back. When Trayvon asked what player inspired him as a child, Henson replied with another Florida native: Tracy McGrady, the recently retired shooting guard who spent four of his 16 NBA seasons with the Orlando Magics. McGrady was a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time league scoring champion.
Florida obviously was on Henson’s mind when he said that he “misses the sunny days of Tampa,” adding that although playing in Milwaukee has its challenges when it comes to the weather, “the fans inside the Bradley Center are (among) the best features any city can offer.” With new head coach Jason Kidd and 1st round draft pick Jabari Parker from Duke University — whom Henson describes as a “great player who will definitely help our team” — the long-suffering Bucks look to be a team on the upswing in the upcoming NBA season.
As for the clinic itself, Henson and the Up2Us coaches did not disappoint. Fans of all ages were taken through a vast assortment of drills and activities that showcased the knowledge that Up2Us is known for. With a focus on sports-based youth development, Up2Us uses the power of sports to reduce youth violence, promote a healthy lifestyle and inspire academic success for kids in every U.S. community.
By training and placing coaches in programs all across the U.S., Up2Us uses its resources to positively impact the future for kids. The sports expo was a huge success, with interactive stations featuring representatives from all three local professional teams — the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The major focus of the event was to show kids how to play different sports the right way.
For more info about Up2Us, please visit Up2Us.org.
No comment yet, add your voice below!