DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — DAY’RON SHARPE, a center for the Brooklyn Nets, spent Friday evening running drills and scrimmages with local kids at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, a new facility that opened Downtown in October, according to NY1. The center hosts weekday clinics for children ages 6 to 17 and partners with the city’s Department of Education to reach students at more than 200 schools annually. Programming is led by veteran coach Michael Collins, who emphasized building resilience alongside basketball skills. Sharpe, who grew up in rural North Carolina, said access to pro-level facilities and mentorship was rare when he was a kid.
“Just to see the access these kids have is special,” he said.
The visit culminated in one-on-one play with participants, many experiencing their first interaction with an NBA player. Organizers said similar clinics will continue throughout the school year.
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