Will Loves The Kids

Will Bynum educates kids on life lessons and basketball drills.

by Jasmine Morales / @msjulyy

Early this month, Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum a.k.a. Will The Thrill, returned to his home town of Chicago to conduct a basketball camp called the “Will Bynum Point Guard Leadership Camp.” The three-day camp which took place on Chicago’s West Side, was offered free to 100 inner city kids.

Bringing in some of the top Chicago area coaches, kids were taught different point guard skills. While basketball was the main reason that brought Will and the kids together, basketball was just a piece of a bigger picture. Being hands on throughout the whole camp the Chicago native partnered with the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard as well as CAPS (Chicago Area Police) to offer leadership classes. The classes educated the kids on being leaders, anti-bullying, and anti-violence.

Giving back is a big part of Will’s life every summer coming back to the city he grew up and giving the kids someone to look up to. When asked how he felt about the camp, he simply stated, “I know how tough it was growing up, so I wanted to do something positive with them—teaching them some values of life that I learned growing up.”

After educating the kids on life lessons, it was only right for the kids take a break and participate in a mini all-star game. Being a big kid himself, Will played with the kids, showing off his skills. At the end of the camp, one youngster showed his appreciation to Will by writing him a letter and giving him a plaque with Bynum’s name on it.

For Will, it means a lot to know he made an impact on the lives of others: “It was cool because I didn’t expect none of that, what’s funny is he was the same player that won the most valuable player award.”

The camp is not the only way the point guard is giving back. He’s providing his former elementary school, Price, with school supplies as well as writing a support letter to CPS (Chicago Public Schools) arguing for the school to become a STEM school—a model school for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). If approved, Price will be one of two in the City of Chicago to offer such a program. The program will broaden the skill-set for students and help increase enrollment and specialized education.

As part of this effort of engagement, Bynum will be Principal for the Day at Price, and the PG says he has some exciting ideas. “Any way I can give back, I will. Whether it be buying school supplies or writing this letter, I came from this school and they taught me a lot so it’s important for me to give back.”