Southern Classic a Boon for Non-Division I Targeted Kids
Ron Bailey, Publisher
April 16, 2008 – “So many kids that are slipping through the cracks year in and year out. Not getting grades early on, by the time they get to be a senior, doors are being shut”.
Powerful and true words these are, ones recently spoken by Needham Cheely. Having led the North Carolina Crusaders – a force in Eastern North Carolina young travel team hoops for seven years now - the talented coach should know.
To Cheely’s credit, he is starting to do something about young people’s early academic struggles precluding them from later academic and athletic success. Enter the Southern Classic.
Held at the Goldsboro, NC, YMCA this Saturday between 10am and 5 pm, Cheely’s Southern Classic will provide junior college and Division II/III programs exposure to a maximum of 100 high school senior, male student athletes. These institutions, some of the finest in their respective leagues, include but are not limited to: Stewart County Community College, Tallahassee Community College, Chipola Community College, Okaloosa-Walton College, Monroe Community College, Miami – Dade Community College, SW Missouri State, Lewisburg, Barton (D2) and Mount Olive (D2).
Additionally, young people from not only North Carolina, but the Washington, DC area and South Carolina will attend, as both Walter Ray and Marvin Champan – both help get kids in college in DC and South Carolina respectively – are scheduled to bring many of the young men they work with.
For a mere $40.00, a young person receives registration, lunch, and four games in front of college coaches. Twenty more participant slots remain. All interested parties, including coaches, student-athletes or fans should call 252.916.9276 with inquiries and concerns.
“Instead of crawling into a hole and dying, there may be other opportunities to keep the dream alive” said Cheely of junior college and/or Division II and II options. “Young people can take a different road but their education may still be paid for”.
A free education after all, is the true pot of gold; anything else is strictly gravy.
If you want that gold, if you want that education, call Cheely. He may be able to help you towards that end.