The Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne Basketball Camp was given a special leadership boost from the University of Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls Basketball teams. Coaches and players from both teams kicked off the event by guiding the children through drills and leading them in scrimmages to help improve their basketball skills.
Senior Guard Emily Mellema of the Cowgirls expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to inspire and mentor young athletes, stating, “We were them one day, right? We were just those little kids that looked up to some of the bigger kids. I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize how much they do look up to us. I think it’s really cool that we’re able to come out here and help cultivate a culture that we provide at The University of Wyoming.”
Following the basketball activities, the children had the chance to interact with the players while receiving autographs. Senior Cowboy Guard and Fort Lewis College Transfer Obi Agbim shared his joy in being able to teach and connect with the children, expressing, “Just being able to look at these kids and teach them something…it’s honestly the greatest thing to do.”
The presence of the University of Wyoming basketball teams in the community holds significant importance. Senior Cowboy Guard Kobe Newton reflected on the impact they have on the young fans, explaining, “They don’t have an NBA team out here. They don’t have a professional team out here. So to some extent we are their quote-unquote NBA team and it’s important for us to go and show them that we care about them and that we love them and that we just want to support them as much as we can, support them as much as they support us.”
For the men’s basketball team, which is primarily comprised of transfers, the camp served as an opportunity to engage with the new community before the start of their season in November. Agbim emphasized the significance of giving back, stating, “Our team, you know, we’re all about culture. We’re all about culture and it’s a really big blessing to give back.”
This event marked the third annual camp organized by the Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne in collaboration with Wyoming Basketball, with plans in place to continue this partnership for another year.
As the community continues to benefit from the engagement of the University of Wyoming basketball teams, the impact of their involvement in inspiring and mentoring young athletes is evident. The collaboration between the Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne and Wyoming Basketball exemplifies the importance of fostering positive relationships and contributing to the development of local youth.
Source:
Wyoming News Now Sports, 2024.