Area Youth Play at FedEx Forum Like Grizzlies

Young basketball athletes from Hardeman County had the opportunity to play on a National Basketball Association (NBA) court when they attended a Memphis Grizzlies basketball home game on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, against the Brooklyn Nets. The all-star experience was one arranged by the City of Bolivar Parks and Recreation Department.

“This was our first year having the opportunity to play during a seasonal game for the Grizzlies. There were some opportunities of being able to play during a G League game, but we wanted the best opportunity this time around,” said City of Bolivar Activities Director Demitrice Beauregard. “They were able to meet some players during warm up. They were also able to see the everyday layout of the Grizzlies organization.”

The experience was not only memorable for Mr. Beauregard and the group of eight through 13 years old players that participated, it was also one for City of Bolivar Parks and Recreation Department employees Willie Golden, and Anthony Ford, a Hardeman County School Board member, who attended with the group.

“I have never had a chance to do it before throughout my years of playing basketball,” said Mr. Beauregard, who hopes the experience will inspire the children. “I hope their takeaway is that this opportunity doesn’t come to every child in the world. Maybe they will believe ‘I may have a chance to play on this floor again as a professional if I work hard on my game of basketball’.”

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