Harris "Assists" Local Special Olympics Squad
6/21/2007 10:38:22 AM | Men's Basketball
When Syracuse University sophomore Paul Harris, a member of the men's basketball team, visited with an Onondaga County Special Olympics squad, he had no idea the great things that were on the horizon for the team. Harris gave a "mini-clinic" to the group and encouraged them through a practice session. The team then won the Gold Medal at the 2007 New York State Special Olympics in Albany on June 16.
"It was a great experience for me," said Harris, reflecting back on the visit. "I taught them a couple of post moves, a few other things and basically cheered them on during their practice."
Gabe Ramos, whose son Gabe was on the team, was impressed with the time Harris spent with the team.
"I was at the practice that Paul came to and I got a chance to speak with him briefly as he was on the sidelines when he first arrived," recalled Ramos. "He asked a couple of questions about the group then jumped right in and became one of the members of the team. He worked with some of them, like my son Gabe, on boxing out. Later, he let each player go one-on-one with him.
"The entire team was on cloud nine from the moment he arrived until they left practice," said Ramos. I was very impressed by Paul’s sincerity and politeness. After practice he took the time to pose for pictures with all the athletes. Not once did he seem to be in a hurry or put out by the many requests for photos, including my stupidly asking him to pose three times because I couldn’t get my cell phone camera to work.
"He is a true gentleman and a credit to himself and the SU athletic program. Students like him make me proud to say I am an SU Alumnus.”
Harris, a native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., recently completed his first season at Syracuse. He averaged 8.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
