As the old saying goes, you should never forget where you came from. For Will “The Thrill” Barton, that means never forgetting your East Baltimore roots. After starring at both City College and Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, he was one of the most highly recruited prep basketball players in the country in 2010, and starred for two years at Memphis before being selected in the second round of the NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He wasn’t in any way an overnight sensation in pro ball, as he spent time in the NBA’s developmental league before eventually being traded to the Denver Nuggets. Will continued to work hard and slowly moved up from a bench player, to a starter, to now a star in the NBA. Clearly, hard work, persistence and doing the right thing are part of his make-up.
So, when Will decided to donate winter coats to every single student in his former elementary school in Baltimore, Walter P. Carter, a Y Community School, it was clearly a case of remembering where he came from and doing the right thing all in one.
As an NBA player in the middle of his season whose home is now thousands of miles away, Will could not personally be on hand, but his brother, mother and aunt were present to help give away the new Under Armour coats to an obviously delighted and surprised group of kids and families.
Check out the WMAR-TV news story and Will’s personal video message below:
WMAR story_Will Barton_Walter P Carter
Will Barton Message (password: willbarton)
As we enter a new year and get ready to lean in even harder to build and strengthen our community, we can all take a dose of extra energy and inspiration from Will Barton’s clear commitment to his hometown and the young kids who live here and aspire to achieve good and great things in their lives. Clearly, Will has not only mastered his jump shot and man-to-man defense, but also the meaning of giving back.
A special thank you to Jovan Custis, the Y’s Community School Coordinator at Walter P Carter, for helping to facilitate Will’s wonderful gift.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy 2020!
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland