POPLAR RIDGE - With 2007 Syracuse University graduate Matt Gorman standing in front of them preaching the importance of school, family and perseverance, the children attending the Southern Cayuga County Basketball Camp had a request.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Former Syracuse University basketball player and guest speaker Matt Gorman, right, faces off with Will Schonfeld, the organizer of the Southern Cayuga Summer Basketball Camp, for a one-on-one game as camp attendees watch during Gorman's visit to Southern Cayuga Middle School Tuesday afternoon.
Former Syracuse University basketball player and guest speaker Matt Gorman, right, faces off with Will Schonfeld, the organizer of the Southern Cayuga Summer Basketball Camp, for a one-on-one game as camp attendees watch during Gorman's visit to Southern Cayuga Middle School Tuesday afternoon.
“Can you do a slam dunk,” asked one of the younger campers.
“Sure,” said Gorman, sporting his infectious smile.
The 6-foot-9-inch former Syracuse forward took a pass from the camper, turned and slammed the ball with two hands into one of the six baskets in the Southern Cayuga Central School District Middle School gym on Tuesday.
Gorman, a top high school recruit coming out of Watertown, was a freshman for the Orange in their historic 2002-2003 National Championship season, along with Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara.
Though his statistics - 2.4 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game for his career - are not as gaudy as his more famous former teammates, Gorman provided the campers with a chance to see and go one-on-one with a Division I talent.
Will Schonfeld, coach of the Southern Cayuga girls varsity basketball team and the person in charge of running the annual camp, said having Gorman come speak was exciting for both him and the children.
“Syracuse has been very, very helpful in getting speakers for us,” Schonfeld said. “A couple years ago Leigh Aziz came. She played in the WNBA and she's from Auburn. [The kids] love it. Anybody they've seen on TV they think is pretty cool.”
The camp, which is in its 14th year, is open to children entering third through 12th grade and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday of this week.
With the temperatures outside yesterday reaching the mid to upper 90's, the chance to listen to Gorman speak was a relaxing break for the campers. Throughout his half-hour-long talk with the campers, Gorman stressed the importance of working hard in school, staying close to your family, and persevering through all challenges. But Gorman wasn't all serious, as he joked about playing rough with his older brother and rooting for Syracuse.
“Is anyone here a Syracuse basketball fan,” Gorman asked, pausing afterward for effect. “I should see everyone's hand in the air right now.”
He also managed to call his former roommate McNamara a “leprechaun,” and even got a big laugh out of his impression of his Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim.
Beth Schonfeld, a 19-year-old graduate of Southern Cayuga, a current member of Tompkins-Cortland Community College's women's basketball team, daughter of Will and first-time camp counselor, said she enjoys the annual camp, including the guests.
“I've been to this camp since probably fifth grade,” Beth said. “It's always pretty cool when we have people come in.”
Gorman, no stranger to speaking at youth camps, said the decision was easy to make the trip to Poplar Ridge.
“Will Schonfeld contacted [Associate Head Coach at Syracuse] Bernie Fine and they asked me to come out here,” Gorman said. “I do a lot [of speaking] at camps in Syracuse, so it's nice to get out of Syracuse and come up to this part of the state.”
Gorman, who plans on playing basketball overseas in Europe this coming season, followed his talk by playing with some of the campers, and even taking on Schonfeld in a one-on-one game. He finished the day by signing autographs for the eager children.
“I remember coming to camps like this when I was growing up,” Gorman told the campers. “It was always a lot of fun.”
“Sure,” said Gorman, sporting his infectious smile.
The 6-foot-9-inch former Syracuse forward took a pass from the camper, turned and slammed the ball with two hands into one of the six baskets in the Southern Cayuga Central School District Middle School gym on Tuesday.
Gorman, a top high school recruit coming out of Watertown, was a freshman for the Orange in their historic 2002-2003 National Championship season, along with Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara.
Though his statistics - 2.4 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game for his career - are not as gaudy as his more famous former teammates, Gorman provided the campers with a chance to see and go one-on-one with a Division I talent.
Will Schonfeld, coach of the Southern Cayuga girls varsity basketball team and the person in charge of running the annual camp, said having Gorman come speak was exciting for both him and the children.
“Syracuse has been very, very helpful in getting speakers for us,” Schonfeld said. “A couple years ago Leigh Aziz came. She played in the WNBA and she's from Auburn. [The kids] love it. Anybody they've seen on TV they think is pretty cool.”
The camp, which is in its 14th year, is open to children entering third through 12th grade and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday of this week.
With the temperatures outside yesterday reaching the mid to upper 90's, the chance to listen to Gorman speak was a relaxing break for the campers. Throughout his half-hour-long talk with the campers, Gorman stressed the importance of working hard in school, staying close to your family, and persevering through all challenges. But Gorman wasn't all serious, as he joked about playing rough with his older brother and rooting for Syracuse.
“Is anyone here a Syracuse basketball fan,” Gorman asked, pausing afterward for effect. “I should see everyone's hand in the air right now.”
He also managed to call his former roommate McNamara a “leprechaun,” and even got a big laugh out of his impression of his Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim.
Beth Schonfeld, a 19-year-old graduate of Southern Cayuga, a current member of Tompkins-Cortland Community College's women's basketball team, daughter of Will and first-time camp counselor, said she enjoys the annual camp, including the guests.
“I've been to this camp since probably fifth grade,” Beth said. “It's always pretty cool when we have people come in.”
Gorman, no stranger to speaking at youth camps, said the decision was easy to make the trip to Poplar Ridge.
“Will Schonfeld contacted [Associate Head Coach at Syracuse] Bernie Fine and they asked me to come out here,” Gorman said. “I do a lot [of speaking] at camps in Syracuse, so it's nice to get out of Syracuse and come up to this part of the state.”
Gorman, who plans on playing basketball overseas in Europe this coming season, followed his talk by playing with some of the campers, and even taking on Schonfeld in a one-on-one game. He finished the day by signing autographs for the eager children.
“I remember coming to camps like this when I was growing up,” Gorman told the campers. “It was always a lot of fun.”
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