Army West Point Athletics
West Point Cadets Participate in NBA Fit Initiative
February 16, 2015 | General
Feb. 16, 2015
NEW YORK - As a part of 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend, 100 cadets from West Point traveled to New York City on Friday, Feb. 13 to participate in NBA Fit.
The cadets contributed to the NBA Fit All-Star initiative, which was to engage with more than one million New York City youth with fitness-related basketball programming. Seventeen cadet-athletes were among those in attendance.
Each cadet was paired with either a legend of the NBA or a current All-Star that was in town for the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend. The pairs went to schools throughout the five boroughs to interact with the kids.
Together, the All-Stars and Cadets interacted with the kids by talking to them about leading a healthy lifestyle and how sports play a role in that. At each school the duos would put on a clinic to get the kids moving and let them see that being active can be fun.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder
"It's important to let the kids know that anything is possible. You need to encourage them and letting them know that anything is possible really does help them. I feel like it's my duty to come out here and teach what I've been taught throughout the years. It is important to give back, to those older than me and to the kids."
Kelly Collins - NBA Fit Operations Assistant
"I think the kids will be able to look to the cadets as well as the All-Stars as role models and can strive to be healthy and fit," said NBA Fit Operations Assistant Kelly Collins. "It will help the kids see that anything is possible, whether it is through the military or in the NBA, and to bring that level of `I can do it' to the kids."
Geoffrey Bacon - Army Football
"It's been a humbling experience because not too long ago I was in their position looking up to people, so to be one of those people it means a lot. It was a lot of fun to interact with the kids. They were so excited to meet Kevin Durant and the international players that came. What was most important was interacting with the kids and introducing them to that healthy lifestyle."
