Men’s Basketball team visits Holtz Children’s Hospital

Reinaldo Llerena // Staff Writer

The FIU men’s basketball team did more than train during the summer for the upcoming season. The Panthers played video and board games with sick children at Holtz Children’s Hospital, too.

Senior forward Elmo Stephen, developed a relationship with Junior, a child being treated at the hospital.

“Junior is a big Golden State Warriors fan,” Stephen said in a phone interview with Student Media. “He loves to talk about sports and he’s very excited for the upcoming season since Kevin Durant plays for his favorite team.”

The Panthers’ appearance marks the third consecutive year the team has been able to visit Holtz Children’s Hospital through their community outreach program. According to Stephen, the children also become role models for the players.

“The way Junior handles his current situation inspires me to keep fighting, no matter what,” Stephen said. “He only wanted to get to know us, but he taught us so much more about life than what team he roots for.”

When Stephen transferred from Tallahassee Community College last season, he missed the first nine games of the 2015-2016 season with a stress fracture in his right leg. Once he was back on the court, Stephen averaged 7.7 points per game in 23 games, which was enough to be the fourth-highest scoring Panther.

“I got a kick out [of] when the kids told me how tall I was,” Stephen said. “I never expected the kids to be so happy to see my teammates and me. All they wanted to do was socialize with us. I would’ve never expected these kids would be so energetic.”

The team also got to interact with the parents and discuss their upcoming season.

“Meeting the kids and their parents was the highlight of the visit to the hospital,” Stephen said. “Getting to know them and talking to the parents about our upcoming season was enjoyable. It was a lot of fun talking to those parents, who are going through so much with their kids in the hospital.”

The schedule for the men’s basketball team has not been yet announced. Based on past seasons, the season will begin in mid-November.

Stephen enjoys participating in this program and would like to continue doing so in the future.

“I would go back to the hospital in a heartbeat if I was asked again,” Stephen said.