July 21, 2010
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Nearly 200 children attended the inaugural Navy Basketball Summer Jam yesterday at the Annapolis MWR, hosted by the Navy men's basketball team and the Naval Academy Athletic Association. The event was put on free of charge and started with the team competing in drills and games and concluded by hosting a cookout and an autograph session.
"It was a great event to be a part of and it was a great experience for our program," said Navy head coach Billy Lange. "We hosted it to let our fans know that we appreciate the energy they bring to Alumni Hall every game and it's just another way to stay connected with the community. It is a great testament to our marketing department, and especially Chris Grosse (Associate Director for Marketing, Promotions and Corporate Sales), for having the foresight and the ability to put this event on. It is an event that we hope can grow every year."
It's just one of several events that the Navy men's basketball team has been a part of, from speaking engagements in schools to volunteering at Field Days.
"I'm proud of the people in our program for getting out and being active in the community and reaching out to our fans. It's a great experience for them and just another way to develop leadership," added Lange. "They enjoy getting out there and interacting with the community and fans."
The day was started with a round of games ranging from whiffleball to football games, before heading inside where Coach Lange addressed the group, introduced the team and then breaking into groups for a team skills showcase and a shootaround with the squad. The day was concluded with the cookout and autograph session.
"It was a great event and we really didn't expect this kind of turnout. I was blown away by the support we received," said Navy senior guard O.J. Avworo. "It was fun getting the kids involved and we were really into it and having fun with them. We want to open up what it is like being part of the Navy Basketball family, and this was a great event to showcase that. We appreciated the chance of bringing the community into our family."
Navy will open the 2010-11 season at Texas on Nov. 8. The home opener at Alumni Hall will be on Nov. 16, against Neumann University.
# GO NAVY #
