How to meet Duke basketball’s Sion James, Blue Devils while helping kids for the holidays

Posted by Admin December 13, 2024 Basketball

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Duke basketball’s Sion James has long been associated with more than what he has and will accomplish on the court.

James, a key player for the fourth-ranked Blue Devils (8-2, 1-0 ACC), will be hosting the “One 4 All Toy Drive” on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Levin Jewish Community Center (1937 West Cornwallis Road) in Durham.

“This is my first time running an event like this, so it’s exciting for me. … It’s a really cool thing we’re doing,” James said in the latest episode of Duke’s “Brotherhood” podcast, which is released weekly.

James will be joined by some of his teammates as the Blue Devils come together to support the Sion James Foundation, in partnership with the 5K Foundation.

Participants will have the opportunity to shoot free throws for a chance to win auction items and bid in a silent auction for things such as a basketball signed by the current Duke basketball team, custom Sion James Foundation shoes and jerseys signed by former Duke players such as Jayson Tatum.

Fans will get to shoot 10 free throws with the Blue Devils. James previously stated his goal was to raise 1,400 toys for hundreds of kids.

Admission is one or more new toys for boys and girls, ages 0-14. Participants can bring toys or buy them through the Amazon wish list set up by James. A donation of any kind earns you five raffle tickets, but more toys means more raffle tickets.

If you donate one toy, you get one raffle ticket per made free throw. If you donate two toys, you get two raffle tickets per made free throw. Finally, if you donate three toys, you get three raffle tickets per made free throw.

James, who played at Tulane in New Orleans before coming to Duke, worked with non-profit organizations like Ryan’s Giving Tree and Samaritan’s Feet in Louisiana. Sandy Ryan, one of James’ best friends and former teammates, created Ryan’s Giving Tree and inspired James to take a similar path.

“It was really something birthed inside me,” James said, giving a nod to his parents by teaching him that “life is bigger than you. There are things more important in the world than just you and what you have going on.”

James also represented the Green Wave as Tulane’s SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) president, creating community service opportunities for the university’s athletes.

The goal of the Sion James Foundation, as stated on the non-profit organization’s website, is “strengthening local communities by supporting the disadvantaged groups within them.” James created the foundation this year, making an official Instagram page in mid-November.

“I wanted something that would be able to follow me throughout my career,” James said. “. … I recognized that I wouldn’t be in the same place forever, so I wanted something that we can do work wherever I’m at.”

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.