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President Obama discusses the importance of H.S. basketball
President Barack Obama talks about basketball all the time. Just today, he released his latest NCAA tournament bracket. Beyond being a fan, the President is an active player who loves a game of pick-up.
In a letter posted Tuesday by WhiteHouse.gov, the President added his thoughts on high school basketball, and how much it impacted his life.
He was responding to a letter from a South Central Los Angeles high school player named Matthew. The senior explained that he'd recently transferred high schools because of basketball.
"[Basketball] keeps my grades up and in the long run I know it will make me a better person as I grow," he wrote. He went on to say that he feels school supplies are not equally distributed in his community, and doesn't understand why some schools in richer areas seem to gain preferential treatment.
He said he didn't expect a response. Imagine his surprise when he received this letter in return:
Dear Matthew:
I’ve been meaning to write since I read the letter you sent some time ago. Playing basketball in high school taught me about who I was and what I could do, and I’m glad it’s played a positive role in your life as well. You’re right — education is the key to success, and whether students live in Beverly Hills or South Gate, they all should have a world-class education with access to the resources they need to reach for their dreams. Your generation deserves a system worthy of your potential, and every day I’m fighting to make that vision a reality. Thank you for your message — your passion to lift up your community is admirable. Keep up the hard work, both on and off the court, and know I expect big things from you.
Sincerely, Barack Obama
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