Special Olympics, Sooners and Smiles

NORMAN, Okla. - Kelvin Sampson and his University of Oklahoma men's basketball team annually host groups of Special Olympics athletes that travel from points across the state. On Tuesday, Oct. 25, approximately 175 athletes from various Oklahoma cities and towns met with Sooner staff members and players at Lloyd Noble Center for a morning of fun on the hardwood.

The Special Olympics athletes utilized both the men's and women's practice gyms, as well as the main Lloyd Noble Center court during the two-plus-hour event.

Special Olympics Photo Gallery

Joining Sampson from the OU family in giving the Special Olympics athletes light-hearted hoops instruction were assistant coaches, support staff and nearly each OU basketball player. Smiles were on constant display.

Said enthusiastic sophomore Kellen Sampson, "We're in a very generous position as student-athletes in that we have the ability to influence and help bring peoples' spirits up.

"The kids have a genuine love for the game. It's not fake. They're not doing it to get to the NBA or just because they think they should. They do it because they genuinely want to be here. It makes us appreciate the opportunity to practice from 3 to 6 every day and to perform in front of millions of people."

Kellen Sampson referred to a specific individual who impacted him.

"I was working with a boy named Peter today and most of the morning he was struggling to get the ball to the rim. He's a little guy and finally I just grabbed him and lifted him up closer to the rim. Just to see the look of accomplishment on his face when he made it, it looked like it could have been Christmas morning. Just seeing his face light up made my day."

Among the cities and towns represented at Lloyd Noble Center were Anadarko, Edmond, Enid, Fairview, Henryetta, Moore, Okemah and Oklahoma City.

"Seeing the kids scream and shout when they scored, it just made me happy inside," said sophomore David Godbold. "I almost felt like a parent teaching them how to shoot and do different things. Our whole team had a great time. It was a lot of fun. Next year I hope to see even more athletes out there and make it an even bigger event. Maybe we can do it more than once."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors