ENMU Men’s Basketball Team to
Participate in NABC Reading Program
Greyhounds will be at James Elementary on Oct. 31

PORTALES, N.M. — Players and coaches from the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team will be visiting James Elementary School in Portales, N.M., on Monday, Oct. 31, to participate in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Reading Program. The NABC Reading Program is an annual national literacy program to promote the importance of reading and education to elementary school children.

Eastern’s basketball players and coaches will be reading to all 24 classes on Monday. More than 400 students attend James Elementary.

“We think this is a great way to serve young people,” said Jim Haney, the Executive Director of the NABC.

“To have the college coaching community involved with such an important educational issue truly provides a winning combination,” said Charlie Brock, head men’s basketball coach at Springfield College and Chairman of the NABC Academics Committee.

The NABC Reading Program was founded to assist the literacy movement in America. The program’s goal is to motivate and encourage children to read for enjoyment as a lifelong practice. The program also allows collegiate basketball players to serve as role models to the youths of their respective communities.

“We are excited about bringing this program to Portales and to James Elementary,” ENMU Head Coach Shawn Scanlan said. “It gives us an opportunity to bring real awareness to the national literacy effort and at the same time have a personal interaction between our student- athletes and the younger students in our community. I see positive benefits for all parties involved in this effort.”

The National Association of Basketball Coaches was founded in 1927 and currently has approximately 5,000 members from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, the NAIA, junior colleges, and high schools. Since its inception, the NABC has worked to further the best interests of the game of basketball as well as the players and coaches who participate in the sport.