More than 250 youth basketball players participated
Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute’s sports medicine team hosted a basketball camp for more than 250 youth basketball players with Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) Impact Athlete and NBA second round draft pick, Tyrese Martin, of the Atlanta Hawks. The camp, held at Muhlenberg College on Friday, August 19, was free of charge and open to young athletes entering fourth through eighth grade.
During the two-hour event, Martin, along with members of the Orthopedic Institute team, led young athletes in a variety of skills and drills designed to help athletes take their game to the next level. They also took part in some spirited competition.
“If I can give one of these kids hope and belief not to give up on their dreams, so they can be in my shoes one day, that’s a win for me,” Martin said. “If I can help them get one percent better today, whether that’s learning something new about the game of basketball or even off the court about life in general, that’s a win for me.”
Martin is one of LVHN’s Impact Athletes. Steve Hultgren, Director, Sports Performance Initiatives, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, says LVHN Impact Athletes are athletes who were molded by their community to become successful collegiate athletes and now want to give back to the community that supported them. Hultgren says the goal of the Impact Athlete program is to provide regional youth athletes with strong inspirational role models who encourage them to pursue their goals.
Other LVHN Impact Athletes include Jahan Dotson, who was recently drafted as a wide receiver for the Washington Commanders and University of Florida track and field star and 2022 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion (400 meters) Talitha Diggs.
According to Hultgren, partnering with Martin as an LVHN Impact Athlete was an easy decision. “Tyrese is the definition of grit and perseverance. He took the road less traveled that some would not have. To watch him blossom as an athlete and as a player, it was a no brainer he was a perfect fit as an impact athlete. Tyrese was the first impact athlete for LVHN and throughout that time he has continually proved why partnering together was a slam dunk,” says Hultgren.
