LU-Belleville men’s basketball team hosts Union Elementary students

On Friday morning, the Lindenwood University-Belleville men’s basketball team hosted the Union Elementary students to talk about what it means to be a “Champion of Character.”

The five core values of the NAIA Champion of Character program are respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Head coach Scott Spinner and members of the men’s basketball team would step up and talk about what each core value means to them.

The players would then call upon some of the students to come on up and get there perspective of what the core values are to them.

They also had some fun in the morning as the men’s basketball players faced off in a shooting contest against a number of students, while the students would then face their own teachers in a shoot-off.

To close out the day the men’s basketball players would do some highlight dunks that made the large crowd roar in excitement.

“Our players love putting a show on for the kids,” said Spinner. “And the best part is that on top of all of the fun, chanting, dunks and shooting contests, there is a great message that is delivered about being a Champion of Character.”

He added, “I believe that our student-athletes benefit as much from the presentation as the children do,” said Spinner. “It’s great to see them interacting with the kids, serving as positive role models, and representing our program so well. I’m very proud of them.”

This was the second time in as many days the men’s basketball program talked about Champion of Character with the local youth as they were at Westhaven Elementary on Thursday.

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 5:57 PM with the headline "LU-Belleville men’s basketball team hosts Union Elementary students."