Four Brooklyn Nets basketball players stopped through the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Thursday afternoon to pal around with about 50 young Bed-Stuy residents and give them a few pointers on how to play a mean game of… volleyball.
Yes, that’s right. Volleyball.
Nets players Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Tornike Shengelia and Mirza Teletovic hosted a youth volleyball clinic, a part of Brooklyn Fit— a health and fitness program, taught by Body Sculpt instructors and nutritionists, along with Nets players, to educate children on staying physically active while having fun.
The event was the second clinic in the program. The first was taught earlier in the week at the Flatbush YMCA.
“We chose volleyball so that we can get the kids acclimated to other sports, other than basketball,” said Jawaan Remsay, teen and sports director at the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA. “We want to expose our kids to a wider variety of sports.”
The squeals, jumps and victory dances by the kids after scoring a point gave all indications they were having a ball learning a new sport while receiving a very big assist from a bonafide Brooklyn Net who, yes, was a member of their team.
“Definitely being able to encourage our kids just to become more physically active, while using the local celebrity of the Brooklyn Nets – people that they look up to – hopefully will inspire the kids to do the same,” said Remsay.
“I’m so happy to see Joe Johnson, finally, because he is one of my favorite players” said Ahmed Diallo, 9. “I had so much fun today. But, if the Nets lose to the Knicks, I’d still be happy.”
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