“It is about the kids,” said Eric Froe, one of the coordinators of the league. “It’s for kids, both boys and girls, 10th grade on down. It is a free league, a free service to the community.”
Froe said the league, which is going on now, is a 10-week program, and at the end of the 10th week five boys or girls will be awarded the opportunity to go to the Shawnee State University Basketball Camp.
“We have sponsors, and our mission is to assist and partnership with various other established leagues such as the McGraw League and the KBA,” Froe said. “It’s our way of giving back.”
The director of the league is Gerald Froe, while Larry McGinnis is the assistant director. They, along with Pastor Vincent Kennedy Jr., operate the league, which began playing last week.
“We are trying to work with the young people to give them an opportunity to enhance their game — build on their skills — but most importantly our mission and our philosophy is ‘education opens doors,’” Froe said. “We don’t want to distract nor discourage any other entity that might be trying to get established. We are non-profit. These young people are not going to be charged anything.”
Froe said league officials want to thank the sponsors, including attorney Mike Mearan, Glockner Honda-Toyota, Gus Saltsman with Salty’s Lock and Key, the Rob Burke Foundation Sent By Abdul, Mt Zion Apostolic in Columbus and the Alvis House in Columbus.
“Hopefully, we can work with the youth and give them an outlet,” Froe said.
The games are at 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon at Mound Park in Portsmouth. More information is available at www.sentbyabdul.com.
FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
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