Homegrown NBA player gives Sacramento kids special day on the court
In 2016, Marquese Chriss, a Sacramento native and Pleasant Grove High School graduate, enjoyed quite a special moment when he was selected in the first-round of the NBA draft by the hometown Sacramento Kings.
Now, the NBA player is offering a different kind of special moment for children who may otherwise never have gotten the opportunity to meet a professional basketball player.
Chriss is leading a two-day basketball camp exclusively for children currently staying in Sacramento's St. John's Shelter for homeless women and children.
"I think it's a big deal," said Chriss, who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. "Thinking that kids are going through things like that is hard. (I'm) just trying to help kids have some hope and come out here and have some fun."
The idea to have Chriss meet and teach children at the shelter came from teenage St. John's Shelter volunteer Jack Koewler.
"Me and Marquese share the same basketball trainer," explained Koewler.
When Chriss heard about the idea, he stepped up, giving children at the shelter an exclusive chance to meet a real-life NBA pro while also creating a moment in time they won't soon forget.
"What did I learn today?" pondered Theo, one of the kids attending the camp. "I learned to dunk on Marqeuse!"
Chriss, an NBA All-Rookie Second Team player, still has not played a game with the hometown Kings because he was traded away before the season to Phoenix after the draft.