August 8, 2014 Shabazz Napier Comes to Town by Geeta Schrayter Last Week, a Basketball Star Came to RHAM May, Hails from Roxbury, Mass
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US. POSTAGE PAID GLASTONBURY CITIZEN, INC. P.O. BOX 373, GLASTONBURY, CT, 06033 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRESORTED STANDARD LOCAL ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ RIVEREAST News Bulletin Serving Amston, Andover, Cobalt, Colchester, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough, Middle Haddam and Portland Volume 39, Number 16 Published by The Glastonbury Citizen August 8, 2014 Shabazz Napier Comes to Town by Geeta Schrayter Last week, a basketball star came to RHAM May, hails from Roxbury, Mass. He explained High School to shoot hoops with area kids, and during a question and answer session after the while the kids expressed excitement and awe clinic he began playing basketball when he was at his presence, former UConn Huskies ace and four years old. The interest, he said, stemmed newly-minted Miami Heat point guard Shabazz from watching his older brother play. Napier said he was just as excited to be with He added he started playing organized bas- them – and they reminded him why he loved ketball at the local YMCA at five and a half. the game. “My mother put me in the Roxbury YMCA Napier made his way to RHAM with All – she snuck me in; you were supposed to be 6 Sports Pro LLC, a company that, according to [years old],” he laughed. its website, partners with towns, recreation de- Yet despite his early beginning, Napier ex- partments, parent associations and other orga- plained to the kids he didn’t take basketball nizations to “help provide a variety of special- seriously until he was in middle school, “nor ized sports camps and multi-sport programs.” did I take it really serious until I was a sopho- The company works with NBA players “who more in high school.” are also outstanding role models” to help the It was then that Napier participated in the participants learn not just the fundamentals of Amateur Athletic Union, which is a non-profit, their sport, but life lessons as well. volunteer sports organization “dedicated exclu- Last Thursday, the RHAM gym was filled sively to the promotion and development of with students, the sound of basketballs hitting amateur sports and physical fitness programs,” the floor, and hoots and hollers as they partici- according to the website aausports.org. Among pated in a number of drills meant to improve other things, AAU “provides opportunities to their game – from working on their footwork participate in outstanding sporting events,” and to jumping rope, dribbling around cones and it’s AAU Napier partially attributed to getting between their legs in figure eights. him where he is today. The kids, who ranged in age from 8 to 16, Participating in AAU, he said, “that’s kind also had the opportunity to shoot hoops with of what got me on to this stage.” Napier, and they did so enthusiastically, crowd- He added during sophomore year he went to ing around him (along with some star-struck an AAU invitational, and UConn’s recently-re- Last Thursday, former UConn star Shabazz Napier spent the evening at RHAM parents who wanted to get ample photos) and tired coach Jim Calhoun attended one of the High School with area kids shooting hoops, signing autographs and talking about smiling happily as they aimed for the basket. games. his career and recent acquisition by the Miami Heat. Napier, who graduated from UConn this past See Shabazz Napier Page 2 Paul Challenging Orange in Tuesday Primary by Melissa Roberto mocracy.” It’s a race that’s generated a lot of Rivereast Whichever Democrat comes out on top in letters to the editor in recent weeks, and after the Aug. 12 primary will face Republican Evan next Tuesday, it’ll all be over. Evans on Election Day. Evans is a Colchester The Aug. 12 Democratic primary will deter- resident who filed to run for the 48th District mine whether incumbent Linda Orange or new- seat after Republican Joe Broder pulled out of comer Jason Paul will be listed on the Novem- the running. Earlier this year, Evans had been ber ballot for the 48th District state Represen- seeking a nomination to run for the U.S. Con- tative seat. gress seat to represent the 2nd Congressional Each Democratic challenger said the past few District; he lost his bid to fellow Republican months have consisted of knocking on the doors Lori Hopkins-Cavanagh, who will face incum- of constituents in the 48th District, which in- bent Congressman Joe Courtney in the fall. cludes portions of Colchester, Lebanon, So, while the primary is a first for both Paul Windham and Mansfield. Paul announced in and Orange, both seem confident in their cam- February his intention to run for the seat, and paigning efforts. in May, he secured enough votes at the Demo- “It’s been going very well,” Paul said. “It’s cratic convention to be placed on the ballot for going to be a close race.” the primary. Orange said she feels her campaign has gone In April, Orange, the endorsed candidate, “great.” announced she isn’t ready to give up the seat “I’ve done a lot of work over the past three she’s held for 18 years. Though Orange has run months campaigning and meeting people, in – and won – nine consecutive elections, next which is the best part of the job: to meet with week will bring her first primary. Asked if hav- people.” State Rep. Linda Orange, left, is being opposed by Jason Paul in a primary next ing a Democratic competitor has been a chal- Paul has lived in Colchester since last Octo- week to determine the Democratic nominee for state representative for the 48th lenge, the incumbent replied, “No. It is a de- See Primary Page 2 Assembly District. Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Shabazz Napier cont. from Front Page asked, to which RHAM Coach Steve Emt re- “I knew when I saw him,” Napier shared. plied after laughing, “We’re not going to an- “In my head I thought he was the best coach, swer that one.” even when I was a sophomore.” Napier was also asked what team he’d choose Although Napier had been playing well dur- if he could be traded to any one he wanted, and ing the invitational, he was nervous at the sight his reply was fitting for someone recently un- of Calhoun. der contract: “I’d say ‘no team,’” he stated. “I tried to say [to myself], ‘Play good.’ I’m Along with the above, other questions roused nervous, I’m saying, ‘Just play basketball, just laughter from the audience, like whether or not play basketball, just play basketball,’” he stated. he has a girlfriend (he does), when he was get- “I go to the midline, I go to shoot a three[- ting his shoe sponsor (he said he had to work pointer] and I air balled. I missed.” for it first), and how good his shot is going to But despite the miss, and despite thinking be next year (“hopefully one of the best!” he he’d blown his shot with UConn as a result, replied). that wasn’t the case. But Napier was also asked some more seri- Napier explained Calhoun “saw something ous questions, and gave those present some in me I didn’t see in myself that day.” heartfelt answers and tips in response. And what Calhoun saw others got to see as “What meant more – graduating college or well, when Napier went on to play for UConn. the second championship?” he was asked. During his tenure at the school, Napier was part “I would lie to you if I said graduation wasn’t of two national championship wins, in 2011 and the most important,” he replied. “That’s some- 2014. He made the Big East All-Rookie team thing that my mother wanted me to do.” after the 2011 championship, and after his jun- He went on to explain his mother, who he ior year he was selected to the All-Big East said was the most influential person in his life, team. always taught him to be better than her. Napier was named the 2013-14 American “That’s hard because in my eyes, she’s just During Shabazz Napier’s recent visit to RHAM for a sports clinic, he spent time Athletic Conference Player of the Year as well perfect to me. [But] my mom was unable to go shooting around with the kids, offering up tips and tricks, and encouraging them as the team’s Most Outstanding Player. He also to college,” he said, adding she told him never received the 2014 Bob Cousy Award as the to put his eggs in one basket, and “school is the with words such as, “You’re thinking too much; just shoot!” nation’s top point guard, and was inducted into most important thing.” the Huskies of Honor. “No one can take that away from you at the a place in Boston. you’ve got. That’s showing your heart.” Napier finished his time at UConn with 1,959 end of the day. God forbid I break my leg,” he “I may reside in Miami but hopefully I’ll have But Napier went on to say it was possible to points, 646 assists, 576 rebounds, 509 free explained, and his basketball career came to a a house in Boston one day; I never want to for- get caught up in the business of the game and throws, 260 three-point field goals and 251 sudden end.