Billups Globe article (8/20)

[Ken Kokubo <kkokubo@pobox.harvard.edu>]

Billups scores with Shelburne youths

                       By Sean Jensen, 08/20/97

                              Louis Harris dribbled right and left, then
dusted Celtics rookie Chauncey Billups with a
                              crossover that led to an uncontested finger
roll yesterday at the Shelburne Recreation
                              Center in Roxbury. Harris, 10, managed two
layups but couldn't defend the
                       6-foot-3-inch Billups in the paint, losing the
one-on-one battle, 3-2.

                       Not that winning or losing mattered. Harris and
about 120 other youngsters just wanted to meet
                       Billups, get an autograph, and watch him drop bombs
and hooks on a couple of youngsters with
                       his newly rehabilitated wheels - particularly his
left one, which sidelined him for most of last
                       month's camp.

                       ''It feels excellent,'' Harris said of the chance to
play the Celtics' top draft pick. ''I'm glad he
                       came. I'll never forget it.''

                       Billups arrived in a white stretch limousine around
noon, then walked down a flight of steps and
                       into the dimly lit recreation center. He felt right
at home.

                       ''This rec center and neighborhood remind me of
home,'' said Billups, who grew up in Denver
                       before starring at the University of Colorado. ''I
remember pro players coming into our rec gym
                       and the feeling I got when they did.''

                       Billups returned to Boston Monday and hasn't talked
to coach Rick Pitino. While in Colorado, he
                       spent time with his parents and ran the first
Chauncey Billups Basketball Camp. He also
                       completed a Reebok photo shoot in Houston.

                       This story ran on page F03 of the Boston Globe on
08/20/97.
                       =A9 Copyright 1997 Globe Newspaper Company.

k k @ h a r v a r d . e d u
U I S / H a r v a r d   U n i v e r s i t y