San Francisco, CA – Committed to seeing the youth of San Francisco succeed, Academy of Art University Women's Basketball went right to work with its community service efforts in late August. The Urban Knights were out at Hamilton Recreation Center to volunteer at the SF Recreation & Parks Department: Taster's Choice – Girls in Sports Basketball Play Day.

"We were there to encourage the kids and help them see that through sports they have something to feel good about and just have fun with," sophomore guard Jasmin Guinn said. "We taught them some of the basics and it was really cool to see how excited they got when they finally accomplished something that we taught, whether it was scoring a basket or being able to dribble with both hands."

The one-day clinic brought together young girls (ages 5-9) with the goal of developing the basic fundamental basketball abilities while learning about sound health practices. The Urban Knights got to assist in teaching passing, shooting, dribbling, and other aspects of the game they have played all their lives.

"It was great time working with the girls," sophomore guard Vianai Austin said. "We taught them the fundamentals of basketball and how to have fun playing."

"We did a lot of drills with the kids, showing them the basics of basketball," junior center Alexandria Coleman said. "We even got a few mini-games going so they could feel what it's like to just have fun and compete."




This was the fifth time ART U had participated in a SF Recreation & Parks' event to empower young women through sports with the Girls in Sports Winter Extravaganza, the Girls in Sports Jamboree, as well as the Girls in Sports Hoops Summit and Easter Eggstravaganza in 2012-13.

"It was really amazing to work the kids through this amazing opportunity!" freshman forward D'Andree Galipeau said. "So nice to share the enthusiasm and passion I have for basketball with the kids!"