BARCELONA, Spain – During Illinois State's final day in Spain, the Redbird men's basketball team gave back to the community by leading a basketball clinic at a local orphanage and center for people with disabilities Saturday morning.
"That was my favorite experience of the entire trip," DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell said. "I know the kids were very excited for us to be there with them, playing basketball and doing drills. Everyone on the team had fun, and I'm pretty sure all of the kids had fun too."
ISU players and staff spent approximately one and a half hours instructing and playing basketball with nearly 50 participants on an outdoor, concrete court in Mataró, Spain, located 30 minutes northeast of Barcelona.
Some of the participants learned a few drills, including how to execute a layup line. Other participants played with and against Redbird players in H-O-R-S-E and in half- and full-court games. At the end of the session, participants gathered together for a group photo with members of the ISU men's basketball team.
Illinois State plays its final exhibition game of the 10-day Spain trip Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT versus Selecció Sporthouse Mataró. For live updates throughout the game, follow ISU on Twitter: @ISURedbirds.
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