All that and more, the more being a virtual jump that measured 44 inches and fell just two inches short of that great Michael Jordan, took him onto the Rock and along the way becoming a second round draft selection out of a Division II school by the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, two-time CBA Slam Dunk Champion, a stellar ten year career overseas, including Italy and Brazil, and one of the ten greatest Hall of Fame players in the nationally and internationally recognized Connie Hawkins Summer Basketball League.
And now, like few others do, he brought all the fame, glory and success back home to teach and tell the 82 boys and girls at the camp how he did it and what they would have to do to have the one in a million opportunity he had.
His message was education, commitment, sacrifice, being with the right people, practice – practice – practice, a love for the game, hard work, and most importantly, doing the right things and being the best person you can be.
This year’s “Hard Work” camp, held in the memory of Armon Gilliam, will go down as one of the best ever and continues to echo the attitude and presence of one of western Pa.’s greatest player and person.
Coach Karen Hall delivered a passionate and powerful profile of the man known as “The Hammer” who actually had as soft a heart as you could imagine.
If Myron and Hall weren’t enough, the 8-to 16-year-old campers who came from all over Allegheny County and Pittsburgh communities were coached, supervised, and loved for two days by an all-star coaching staff that included Camp Director Jay Latimer; Coach Tony, Wilkinsburg high school head coach; Gene Wilson; special guest Gerald “Scott” Warrick, of the Harlem Wizards; Mike Booker—our military rep.; Quiet Storm Coach Al Smith—a/k/a “The Savior;” and a host of assistant coaches and former players who donated two days of their lives to help give these kids the rest of theirs!!!
The camp sponsors were Achieving Greatness Inc.; Jay Hope and the Penn Hills YMCA; Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald; Keith B. Key and the KBK Foundation; Penn Avenue McDonald’s; Highmark; ComDoc; Attorney William Goodrich; Attorney Jack Goodrich; Judge Dwayne Woodruff; The Hillman Foundation; state Rep. Ed Gainey; Attorney Eddie Edwards; Fox’s Pizza; Vocelli Pizza; Penn Hills Eat-’N-Park; and The Penn Hills Rotary.
In closing, we want to believe that there are now 82 young people that we will never have any trouble from because they have been touched by the Armon Gilliam experience.
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