The Locke’s Lions were born in February, 2008.
After running several weekend basketball clinics at Alain L. Locke Elementary School – P.S. 208, Coach Greer Love established a great relationship with Ms. Green and Ms. Colon. He approached them with a proposal that would introduce a dual-focused academic and athletic program for kids who had an interest in basketball, modeled after his experience as a tutor for the Indiana University student-athlete services department. The team was selected from over 45 students who tried out this past October.
On days when practic was scheduled, Coach Love assisted as a student teacher in some of the afternoon classes. This helped emphasize the academic component of the program and to give him broader exposure to students who were not on the team. After school, the team heads straight to the cafeteria for mandatory study tables prior to basketball practice. Participants in Locke’s Lions are required to work on homework under Coach Love’s tutelage. If students do not have homework or are finished, they are expected to read a book and write down five unfamiliar words in order to improve their vocabulary. After an hour of study tables, basketball practice commences.
Before competing locally, the team took on the teachers of Alain L. Locke Elementary. The whole school was invited to attend this enormously popular spirit assembly. Not only did these assemblies energize the student body with school spirit and promote further recognition of the program, but they also helped forge more respectful relationships between teachers and students. The teachers showed that experience still trumps youth by winning 26 to 24 in a closely contested game.
Along with seven other area coaches, teachers, and school administrators, Coach Love co-founded a local Harlem league for interscholastic competition.
