Junior's Summer Mentoring Kids in Newspaper's Spotlight

July 30, 2007

July 30, 2007, Greencastle, Ind. - "The kids are really like brothers and sisters to me," says Derek King, who is spending the summer mentoring children as a youth basketball coach in Muncie, Indiana. "If they weren't here, I don't have any idea what they'd be doing."

A story in the Muncie Star Press writes of King, "A Southside graduate who played basketball for the Rebels his last two years of high school, he is now a junior at DePauw University, where he plays for the Tigers. He is also one of five young local men who were hired to help influence these youngsters this summer."

King tells the newspaper he feels the summer experience has been rewarding for all involved. "They were reluctant to open up tous in a deep way in the beginning. Now they feel comfortable enough with me and the other staff members to share what's going on in their lives."

Access the complete story, which includes a photo of Derek King interacting with a 6-year-old boy, at the newspaper's Web site.