CHICAGO — Howard Moore believes basketball can save Chicago.
The former UIC head coach and current assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — where the Taft graduate also played — is organizing a hoops skills clinic for fourth- through sixth-graders on Aug. 13 at Quest Multisport, 2641 W. Harrison St.
The all-day event also features a tournament with former Chicago basketball legends Rashard Griffith (King), Jamie Brandon (King), Imari Sawyer (King), Arthur Agee (Marshall) and Ronnie Fields (Farragut).
Fields and Griffith will share stories with the young participants about how basketball kept them off the streets, Moore said.
Very exciting event in Chi! Legends take back the streets. Free Bball session for kids! Legends game! Sat August 13. pic.twitter.com/YMRpTXY9E5
— Daniel Poneman (@SwagAir) August 3, 2016
"In the wake of all the things going on in Chicago, this is an opportunity for us to celebrate what's good about our city and the people that are in it," Moore said. "We're trying to make a positive statement and help our youth. This is using basketball to get everyone on the same page and get dialogue established to really conquer some of the problems in our communities."
Moore added that a handful of Chicago Police officers will be on hand to talk to the kids to "help them understand the importance of having the police and the true value of having police," Moore said.
Last year, Moore was an analyst at Big Ten Network after he was not retained as the Flames' head coach.
He landed an assistant gig at Wisconsin, where had previously served in the same role, in December. Moore said he's now in the process of building a home in Madison.
For more information on Aug. 13's event, which is free for kids and $5 for adults, click here.
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