Norm Van Lier knew he was going to make something of himself. He shared these words with the legendary Sonny Vaccaro, who helped shape Norm's ideals of what could be possible. With every day Norm had on this earth, every moment he had to be a force on the court-he made his vision a reality. Now, the Norm Van Lier Foundation and the Chicago United Hoops Classic are striving to make this possible for Chicago's youth.
But for some young players in our city with the same drive to succeed, they face the most difficult of circumstances and risks. The violence in their neighborhoods steals their potential legacy far too soon as they deserve their chance to realize their dreams.
This past April, the inaugural Hoops Classic initiated what will be an annual effort to make a difference; asking nothing in return other than a brighter future for our youth. The game featured Coach Don Houston who led the South squad of all-star prep players in what was a day to remember. But sadly, this past weekend, the famed coach received unimaginable news that would illuminate why our mission is always ongoing- one of his own players was tragically killed in an act of random violence.
Ryan Royall, a 17-year-old basketball star at Hillcrest High School, was simply leaving a birthday party with friends when a stray bullet penetrated his back. The talented young athlete had hoop dreams of playing in college and possibly beyond; as Coach Houston shared, Ryan was "a quiet, coachable team leader" and "truly a good kid".
Our city's children are being affected everyday by violence and we will not allow their futures to be defined by this any longer. This year, the Hoops Classic will be offering ways to get involved with the cause through volunteer opportunities, a leadership council and other initiatives to get the message out that there are people who want to help our city's future generations thrive.
As our hearts pour out to Royall's, the Hoops Classic team is more motivated than ever to bring a bigger, better and more powerful game to you in 2012 as we will not stop fighting to silence the violence.
*Be sure to stay connected with the Hoops Classic on our Facebook page for news and ways to get involved
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