She's Got Game: WNBA Player Coaches Clinic in West Africa

Someone was smiling down upon a Senegalese girl?s basketball clinic last Satuday. That someone happened to be Chamique Holdsclaw, former WNBA player, who had flown to Senegal for the occasion. The group of girls looked up at Ms. Holdsclaw, who stands 6?2, with evident awe.

Ms. Holdsclaw had traveled to Senegal with SEEDS, an American NGO working to train the next generation of African basketballers. She spent the weekend demonstrating proper pivoting techniques, surveying matches, swatting flies, and sweating in the Senegalese summer heat with aspiring basketballer players.

Girls of all experience levels turned out for the clinic, from the bright eyed beginners working on their dribbling to the competitive club players, perfecting lay-ups. All, however, were ready to play.

Before the games began Ms. Holdsclaw addressed the group. ?When I first started playing, you know I played on baskets that were torn down in the housing projects in New York City,? she said. ?To see where I started and where basketball?s taken me are two different places, and its such a blessing.?

After coaching a group of recently growth-spurted teens from a local club, Ms. Holdsclaw shared her thoughts on SEEDS? project. Encouraging Africa?s oft-ignored young talent, she believes, is already making a difference. ?I?ve played with Africans before, and everyone always says ?Oh, they?re great defensive players,? but I?m starting to see the creativity now. They?re picking up the details? they?re going to be more than those defensive players. They?re shooting the ball better and that?s something that?s exciting.?

She hoped the day?s lessons would extend beyond basketball, as well. ?To get these women, to empower them a little bit, that?s what its all about,? she shared. ?They?re coming up to me and going like, ?Wow, you get paid? Girls can play basketball?? I tell them I played in front of 20,000 people, that I played at the Olympics? it?s great that I?m just able to give that back to them.?

The message was not lost on the girls. ?Whoever wants to play basketball can play basketball,? fourteen-year-old Ndebele exclaimed. Although she has only been playing the sport for a year she has high hopes, no doubt bolstered by Ms. Holdsclaw?s appearance in Senegal. ?I hope that I can come to the USA,? becuause I think one day I?ll be a great basketball player.?

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/eliseknutsen/2012/08/30/shes-got-game-wnba-player-coaches-clinic-in-west-africa/

seal and heidi klum drew peterson untouchable herman cain south carolina palmetto rob lowe sanctum the notebook