Gaston College students hold basketball clinic for kids

In a gym at Gastonia First United Methodist Church, more than 30 children dribbled basketballs across the court. With them were players from Gaston College's basketball team, bouncing their own basketballs and calling out directions.

"It's very fun," said 9-year-old Macon Tippett, speaking quickly before bounding away with her ball.

Henry Braxton, also 9, agreed, adding that his favorite part was the dribbling.

The basketball clinic was a four-week collaboration between the First United Methodist Church and Gaston College, said Becca Hurd, one of the organizers.

The Gaston College Rhinos would use the gym to practice, and children arriving for Wednesday evening programs would peer in, watching as they played.

"The kids would open the doors and get excited and shut the doors," Hurd said.

The youngest children in the gym were 3 years old, while the oldest were around 11.

"We have kids back here that we haven't seen since COVID," Hurd said.

Esther Lower, 5, said that she has been learning how to shoot in the clinic.

"I also have been doing dribbles and how to throw it up," she said.

"I like shooting the best," Charles Murray, 5, cut in.

Joshua Johnson, a 22-year-old Gaston College basketball player, said while the children are having fun, he also got something out of it. Johnson has been playing basketball "since I can remember," but this has been his first opportunity to formally coach.

"It's fulfilling for me to see a new person learning basketball," he said. His favorite part? "The high fives, and I like the relationships I'm building with these kids. It's very fun."

Yarayah Evans, a 23-year-old Gaston College basketball player, agreed. Evans said that he's been playing basketball since high school.

"You learn a lot from these kids," he said. "This is something I didn't get to be a part of when I was a kid… It's fun when they're engaged, and they're having fun learning."

While the clinic was not open to the public, Hurd is hoping that the partnership between the college and the church will continue.

"Ideally the clinic will be a springboard for not only our own church programs to 'renew' after the COVID hiatus, but also that we may develop a lasting relationship with Gaston College not just for the children, but for youth moving forward," she said. "We have a great asset in our facility and a great new asset in having the fantastic talent right here with collegiate level players willing to interact with these young kids."

"Moving forward we hope to promote more partnerships and clinics. We are not open to the public for the clinics, but that may be a real possibility into the summer and future offers," she added.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston College students hold basketball clinic for kids