My experience at the LA Watts Summer Games was incredible and inspirational. Having been a kid who grew up playing basketball around the neighborhood with K&E Bulls out of the Crenshaw district, it was nostalgic to see this event unfold with my team partner and great friend Aaron Plunkett. Even though he was handicapped with a badly sprained ankle, he made his way across numerous playing fields to support the LA Watts Summer Games mission, and it was dedication at its finest.
Although there a number of teams from different neighborhoods across the Los Angeles region, one thing was forced and practiced amongst the players and coaches; competition and sportsmanship. It’s wonderful to see young men learn the value of those things, as they will transpire into their personal lives. Even more wonderful were the speeches I heard given to players by Coach Jose "Coco" Jarin and Kenny Lawler, for example, as they reminded the student-athletes to believe in themselves and always remember the importance of education before athletics. As my AAU coach reinforced, “worry about your MBA before the NBA.”
Besides seeing some of the best prep football players in Socal such as Justin Taylor, Marquis Wimberly, Matt Preston, Brandon Cox, Joshua Taylor, Alex Baer and Roger Lemus, to name a few, it was great to see the dedication of the people who work to promote the summer games cause! For instance, Aaron and I were talking to some refs about their view on the games and one of the veteran refs and I recognized each other from when I played high school hoops at Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks. I let him know I was part of the K&E family and Coach Tiny and he remembered me. I valued the fact that this individual is still here supporting the games, the cause, and the community!
Individuals like LA Watts Summer Games Chair Nick Davidson, Viliami Tuivai, Jose "Coco" Jarin and Kenny Lawler were crucial to the success of this year’s games and are the promise of games' future. I feel so fortunate to be part of College Level Athletes and the representation we had in this year’s games! And guess what? Its not over yet! Next week #TEAMCLA will travel to the basketball tournament finals. I can’t wait to see the talent and the support. Sometimes it's as if nothing else matters. And that’s the beauty of sports in my eyes. It’s just about the sport and the cause! I’m proud and honored to be able to represent the LA Watts Summer Games with #TEAMCLA.
