AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – Simply 5 months in the past, Ok.J. Thomas was serving to lead the Randall Raider basketball workforce to back-to-back state event appearances, and extra just lately a 34-4 season.
Earlier than he will get his freshman 12 months began after committing to UTEP, he hosted a basketball camp for his neighborhood and supporting his former coach, Leslie Broadhurst, by donating the funds to most cancers analysis.
For 36 years, Broadhurst was the top coach of the Randall Raider basketball workforce, earlier than stepping down midway by final season after studying he was battling mind most cancers. He has seen and developed a number of gamers in his time. Certainly one of them being Ok.J. Thomas.
Thomas says that this camp isn’t solely to assist the youngsters in his neighborhood, however to assist most cancers analysis to help Coach Broadhurst.
“Nice camp, a bunch of children, and we’re glad to see all people popping out and type of serving to us out,” Thomas stated. It’s all for Coach Broadhurst. I really like that man. He’s executed so much for me and simply need to donate some huge cash to most cancers analysis, and simply making an attempt to offer again to the neighborhood, give again to the town that gave again to me.
After being his coach for 4 years, Broadhurst has seen the event of Thomas on and off the court docket, and he was not stunned to see Ok.J. giving again.
“For him to have the ability to, at his age, have this concept on his personal and give you it and known as me and stated, ‘I’ve bought an concept, coach, what do you assume?’ Naturally, simply delight, you already know, doing a free camp for teenagers. And that’s simply his that’s the best way he’s and the way he was raised. And he’s a giver, not a taker and really laborious employee.”
Ok.J. Thomas was a four-year participant on the varsity stage beneath Coach Broadhurst. He says he remembers when Thomas got here into Randall and will see the participant that he finally turned out to be.
“When he was a freshman, he was about 5′6″ and he regarded like Bambi, a bit deer. He was very small, however he had a talent stage that was unbelievable. We put him on varsity as a freshman as a result of we had Aaron Ovalle and Kainan Thomas as senior guards, and I wished him working towards towards them daily, and it actually helped him enhance. Then he began rising a bit bit, bought stronger, after which he was prepared. Within the subsequent three years, he did some phenomenal issues.”
The placement for the camp? None different then the Leslie Broadhurst Gymnasium at Randall Excessive College. Thomas says that it was a no brainer to assist the youthful youngsters out in the identical gymnasium that he practiced and performed 4 years at.
“This gymnasium is dwelling, clearly. I spent 4 years right here, had 4 superb years right here, and this place is dwelling. I really like coming again to this gymnasium on a regular basis.
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