TIFTON —
Local youth with the Burgers and Basketball group were surprised last Friday when former professional basketball player Christian Laettner showed up at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) to host a free camp.
Jimmy Moore, CEO of the Tiftarea YMCA, said Burgers and Basketball is a joint ministry provided by the Y, Young Life and FUMC. He noted that the name came about because in the past, McDonald’s sponsored some burgers for the group.
Approximately 85 young males in the community participate in Burgers and Basketball, which began about eight or nine months ago, says Moore. He stated that when they first started the program, they had five or six participants, and they offered it once a week at FUMC’s activities center. Now, the younger boys come on Tuesdays and the older boys come on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The program was designed for young males in the community to have something to do. They play basketball while also learning about setting good examples and sportsmanship.
“It’s a great program,” Moore said. “The Tiftarea YMCA keeps looking at ways to reach out to all children and to make life special for them.”
He stated that Mark Raymond with Young Life does a great job and plays basketball with the group of boys.
Moore said when he was speaking with Laettner one day over the phone, he stated that he wanted to get involved with the local Burgers and Basketball group. Laettner decided to come to Tifton from his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. to give a free camp at FUMC's activities center.
Moore said they didn’t tell the group about Laettner coming to do the camp. They wanted it to be a surprise. The boys were only informed that there would be something special that day, which they were indeed surprised when they were greeted by a 6’11” former professional basketball player.
Laettner played college basketball at Duke University and then went on to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1992 to 2005. He was a first round pick in the 1992 NBA draft, where he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He went on to play for several other NBA teams during his 13-year run. He was the only college player selected for the 1992 United States men’s Olympic team, nicknamed the “Dream Team.” The Dream Team won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Laettner is well known for his performance in the 1992 NCAA Tournament when Duke defeated Kentucky in the East regional final with a 104-103 victory, played at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. His performance earned him a 1993 ESPY Award for “Outstanding Performance Under Pressure,” the 1993 ESPY for “College Basketball Play of the Year” and the 1993 ESPY for “Outstanding College Basketball Performer of the Year.” He has also won several other awards and has held several records.
Moore stated that Laettner is a good person and has a real passion for the Y organization, and the day he spoke with him about Tifton’s Y, it was evident that “he was looking forward to getting involved with ours.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Former professional basketball player Christian Laettner is pictured (far back) with the local Burgers and Basketball group and Jimmy Moore, CEO of the Tiftarea YMCA (far right). Laettner recently visited Tifton to host a free camp at First United Methodist Church’s activities center for the local youth in the program.
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Former professional basketball player Christian Laettner is pictured (far back) with the local Burgers and Basketball group and Jimmy Moore, CEO of the Tiftarea YMCA (far right). Laettner recently visited Tifton to host a free camp at First United Methodist Church’s activities center for the local youth in the program.
Former pro hosts basketball camp
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