Zach Randolph Class of 2000
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Zach Randolph Class of 2000 Zach Randolph, Marion High School Class of 2000, is a three-time NBA All-Star and a committed philanthropist, regularly reaching out to help kids and families in his home city of Marion and his adopted home of Memphis, where he has played for the NBA’s Grizzlies since 2009. Randolph came from humble beginnings in Marion, spending much of his time outside of school at the PAL Club and Boys and Girls Club, where he discovered his love for basketball. But even at a young age, his giving spirit was part of what drove him to work hard and strive for success. That work ethic was a huge part of what led him to success on the basketball court, and in his senior year at Marion High School he led the Giants to their seventh state title — and the first since the three- peat in the 1980s — and was named a McDonald's All-American. His talents led him to Michigan State University, where he helped lead the team to the Final Four in his freshman year. He was drafted into the NBA in 2001, and has gone on to an outstanding career that has included three turns as an NBA All-Star and multiple appearances in the NBA playoffs. He has played for the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and now the Memphis Grizzlies. Throughout his long career and many professional achievements, though, “Z-Bo” (as he has been known since his Marion days) has never forgotten what it was like to be in need, and he takes every opportunity he can to play a direct role in helping meet others’ needs. He continues to support the Marion Boys and Girls Club, and also provides food to families around the holidays in Marion. He has also earned recognition for his contributions to the community of Memphis, where he has played for the Memphis Grizzlies since 2009, and where he is affectionately known as “Z-Bo Clause” during the holiday season, when he is known for providing direct, personal assistance to hundreds of families each year. He steps in often for those in need, whether it’s a family struggling to pay their bills, or a dog stuck in a pipe and in desperate need of veterinary care, or a child with little hope of a happy Christmas, or a family facing a stark table during the Thanksgiving holiday. Randolph is a true Giant and arguably the most successful professional athlete ever to wear a Giants uniform. He is truly a testament to the power of hard work and generosity, and an inspiration to those who dream of overcoming difficult circumstances. .