Brooks to hold camp at UTB-TSC
A second player from the NBA will hit the floor of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College’s REK Center.
Guard Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets will hold an exclusive camp for at-risk children from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 19 and 20.
Fifty area children between the ages of 8 and 15 will have an opportunity to attend the clinic, which will benefit the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. The children must bring a 24-unit case of bottled water, and a 24-unit case of non-perishable canned food.
Brooks’ clinic is a collaboration with Brooks’ AB Foundation and Success Basketball, a non-profit youth organization founded by Gonzalo Garza, a UTB-TSC Lecturer in the Health and Human Performance Department. The AB Foundation runs Drills and Skills clinics in Houston and Dallas.
"Rene has been an advocate of youth sports for many years," Garza said. "He was responsible for bringing "Skills and Thrills Basketball Camp" to the Valley and is a current sponsor of many youth sports teams including Success Basketball."
Brooks, 25, played all 82 games during a sensational first full season with the Rockets in 2009-10, averaging 19.6 points per game. He played collegiate basketball at Oregon and was selected by Houston during the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. Brooks also played with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.
"This is a great opportunity for children to learn from a player in the NBA by helping the Food Bank," Garza said. "We hope this is a start of more partnerships with professional athletes to help the children of our area."
An autograph session open to the public will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20.
At-risk children targeted to attend the event free of charge are students participating in YouthBuild centers, the Brownsville Parks & Recreation Department, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of San Benito and Harlingen.
The UTB-TSC HHP Department is the event host. Children interested in attending the clinic must contact Garza to register at (214) 734-4533. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The clinic is sponsored by Rene Cardenas, owner of Cardenas Auto Group.
"Aaron Brooks is a great basketball player and even a better person for being willing to share his skills to the youth of our area," Cardenas said.
