A new LINC partnership with Avila University tipped off on the basketball court this month with student athletes from the south Kansas City university and coaches holding workshops at schools with LINC students.
As a highlight experience, Avila invited LINC children and families to the Eagles’ basketball game Feb. 14.
Avila worked with several LINC schools, including a recent visit by Avila Graduate Assistant Coach Robert Lee III and student athletes Maurkalip Riley and Rory Romano with LINC kids at Whittier Elementary in the Kansas City Public Schools.
“My dream is to work with kids,” said Lee, who is from San Francisco, “to bring light . . . to bring hope, and just give them another outlook to have fun in the game the same way we found it when we were kids.”
“It’s a blessing for both of us,” Romano said for him and teammate Riley at Whittier. “To be around the kids is good for us, good for them, so all around I’m just happy to be here.”
“We’re here with the kids trying to get their fundamentals right,” Riley said, “so they can be ballers just like us.”
And this is just the beginning, said LINC Director of Athletics, Health and Wellness Jason Ervin. LINC and Avila plan on providing learning opportunities for students from university athletes in multiple sports.
“Being at the game was a great experience for our families and our kids,” Ervin said, “and we look forward to working with Avila University with a bunch of other sports.
