Kitchener native Jamal Murray returns home to help local students get back to school
Posted Sep 2, 2016 06:48:41 AM.
Last Updated Sep 4, 2016 09:11:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Kitchener basketball star is back in his hometown this long weekend, sending some local students off to school well-supplied.
The NBA’s Jamal Murray was welcomed by over 200 friends, family, and fans at the ‘Staples’ store on 245 Strasburg Road in Kitchener on Saturday morning– signing autographs and filling backpacks from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Murray tells 570 News he couldn’t wait to get come back home. “It’s good to be back, giving back to the community I grew up in. It’s been awhile and to see everyone come through…it’s pretty remarkable for me.”
Murray then headed over to the Amos Avenue neighbourhood in a stretched-out limo bus to hand out the loaded up backpacks, as Murray grew up in that area of the city. He says it feels good to be back on the streets he played basketball on as a kid. “I know a lot of people will show up, and coming back brings back memories.”
Amos Avenue made headlines earlier this summer after a young boy was killed by a vehicle in his townhouse complex parking lot– one of the other reasons Murray will be visiting there.
The manager of Waterloo Region Housing, Mina Fayez-Bahgat, says Murray is a homegrown talent that has made everyone proud.
“He’s an incredible young man and just an inspiration. Especially for youth in our community, it’s a great way to show them all that with hard work and dedication you can accomplish your dreams.”
People in our Region couldn’t wait to meet the 7th overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in this past year’s draft.
