CMU Student-Athletes Participate in Tribal Basketball Clinic
2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 28, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal youth received a "fabulous" basketball clinic last Saturday thanks to former University of Michigan standout Jimmy King, along with a handful of Central Michigan University student-athletes. King was a member of the Wolverines' famed "Fab Five" recruiting class and later played in the National Basketball Association for the Toronto Raptors.
CMU Board of Trustees chairman John Kulhavi arranged the clinic for the native youth at the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Gym.
Jimmy King and Board of Trustees Chairman John Kulhavi speak with the clinic participants.  | |
King and representatives from the CMU Athletics Department instructed the tribal youth on basketball skills and put the youngsters through a series of drills.
"The clinic was another great opportunity for CMU Athletics to be involved with the native youth sports programs at the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe," CMU associate athletics director Nick Williams said. "We have a strong partnership with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and are committed to being involved with these types of programs. The clinic sessions were great and we really have to thank Chairman Kulhavi and Jimmy King for making it all happen. We were just thankful to be included in such an outstanding event."
Chippewa football players Ronnie Ekdahl and Isaac Brown work at a dribbling station. | |
Representing CMU Athletics were basketball players Brandon Ford and Mike Kramer, football players Ronnie Ekdahl, Chris Boss, Isaac Brown, Larry Knight and Cliff Gilliam, football coaches Brian Kelly and Plas Presnell, and administrators Derek van der Merwe and Williams.
"This is an initial step in what could be a great building relationship. We have two great entities here in Mount Pleasant -- the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Central Michigan University," Kulhavi said. "If we continue to pull these talents together, we could see things that have never been done before."
King and CMU football coach Brian Kelly speak to the tribal youth. | |
Along with King, Michigan's Fab Five included Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose and Ray Jackson. The five freshmen started in the 1992 NCAA Championship Game then again in 1993. The group was known for its baggy shorts, black socks and on-the-court swagger.