In The Community
Five members of the Blue Hens Men’s Basketball team visited Mount Pleasant Elementary School in Bellefonte to talk to 170 fourth and fifth graders about the importance of hard work and academics.
Head Coach Monte Ross encouraged the students to dream. “Strive to be professional,” he said. “You know why? Professionals have worked very hard to get where they are. There’s nothing wrong with you dreaming about being a professional athlete—as long as you spend as much time studying for your tests.”
Kaleb Clyburn, Brendan McNulty, Devon Saddler, Will Townsville, and Hakim McCullar joined Coach Ross in front of the excited crowd of students. Following Coach Ross’ speech, all of the students were encouraged to ask the players any questions that they wanted. They asked about the players favorite colors, favorite professional basketball teams, what they were studying at the university, how tall they were, and if they earned scholarships to play on the team.
The discussion concluded with the 6-foot-7 McCullar dunking the basketball in front of an amazed and excited crowd of students. While the soaring McCullar may have been the highlight of the day for the children of Mount Pleasant Elementary School, they most certainly took with them Coach Ross’ most important message that without a focus on grades and schoolwork, these student-athletes would not be where they are today.
