After hanging up his size 17 pro sneakers, Andre now runs the Big Feat Basketball Mentoring Program as part of Australia’s Pathways to Prevention Project - an early intervention, crime prevention program providing holistic support to children and families in Brisbane’s western suburbs.
The most recent ‘Big Feat’ program involved 180 Grade 5 and 6 students from Carole Park, Durack and Inala state schools. Grade 6 students from Richlands East State School will experience the same “skills, thrills and fun” when Andre’s next sessions begin on August 9.
The 10-week mentoring program uses basketball to promote positive and healthy messages to pre-adolescent children, with Andre teaching kids to discover their strengths, improve their communication skills, become better team players and set goals.
The former professional basketballer, affectionately known as ‘The A-Train’ in his Brisbane Bullets days, has been leading by example for much of his life. The oldest of four children who grew up in a tough part of Chicago, Andre was a father figure to his younger siblings.
“Now I have seven children, so messages I pass on to these kids I pass on to my own,” he said. “By running this program I’m giving back to the community that has supported me.”
Cherie Lamb, Pathways to Prevention Manager, said Andre made a big impact on the lives of local children: "They were in awe of Andre's height and basketball skills.
“Andre provided the students with insight into the importance of making healthy choices in relation to nutrition and exercise, while still keeping their attention by mixing in basketball drills,” she added.
“The children’s evaluation forms showed that ‘Big Feat’ program was a life-changing experience.”
Durack State School principal, Beth Petersen, said teachers and parents were delighted with the program's success: “Our students have responded very positively to Andre and Mission Australia's lessons."
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