BY DAN SAVAGE, OrlandoMagic.com
ORLANDO – When Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black was a child, he attended a basketball camp every summer at Baylor University.
He vividly recalls looking forward to those sessions and how much of an impact they had on his development.
Not only did they give him additional motivation, but they also helped him believe that he could play basketball at the next level.
It was a full-circle moment for Black on Tuesday afternoon as he teamed up with the Magic and Ticketmaster to surprise youth from the Joe R. Lee Boys & Girls Club with scholarships to attend a Magic basketball camp. The youth will take part in a camp the week of July 8, courtesy of Ticketmaster.
“It was definitely something I looked forward to,” said Black of his camp experience. “I definitely know what they’re feeling.”
Black, along with Magic community ambassador Bo Outlaw and coaches from the Magic Youth Basketball Academy, gave the children a head start on their camp experience by putting them through a series of drills focused on conditioning, dribbling, defense, and finishing at the rim.
“It’s really important to me,” said Black. “Growing up with a little brother, just seeing how him and all his friends acted around me … it’s fun being around kids and helping them out. Just being a role model.”
In addition to the scholarships, Ticketmaster surprised each child with a swag bag that included a Dri-FIT shirt, shoes, shorts, and a Magic basketball. Ticketmaster will provide a total of 50 scholarships to local community groups supporting youth including Joe R. Lee Boys & Girls Club, Vibrant Families, Girls Worldwide Basketball Foundation, Chambers Park Community Center and Orange County Parks & Recreation.
“We’ve been based in the community since 1987, so the Orlando community is really important to us,” said Ticketmaster EVP and Co-Head of Sports Clay Luter. “The Magic are one of our earliest partners. So, whenever we can do things with them to promote youth sports, getting out and being active, we fully participate. When they brought up this opportunity, we said ‘absolutely, let’s jump on this.’ It’s been great to see the looks on the kids’ faces. And it’s really special to see Anthony Black, the young talent that he is, engaging with these kids with energy and passion.”
The Magic and Ticketmaster are committed to the community and teaching life skills to youth through the game of basketball. Through Magic basketball camps and clinics along with scholarships from Ticketmaster, youth will not only learn the game of basketball, but the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and health and wellness to accomplish their goals.
“It’s a really important program,” said Luter. “We have offices across the country, but we always want to be as local as we can. Again, the Magic are one of the best in the business of bringing their partners in and not just throwing a logo up on a wall somewhere. It’s about how do we do something that’s really meaningful and impactful in the community. Today is one of those events. They are entrenched in the community, so whenever we can partner with them, and be part of it, we are happy to do it.”
