Top College Players set to Coach Special Olympics Athletes at the Annual  Wooden Award Special Olympics Basketball Tournament Presented by Grant Thornton. Event Pairs Outstanding NCAA Basketball Players With Special Olympics Teams For A Four Team Tournament.

WHAT:
On Friday, April 9, 2010, the Los Angeles Athletic Club will play host to one of the most unique and exciting opportunities in collegiate basketball. The John R. Wooden Awards finalists (consisting of notable NCAA players) will coach four Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) basketball teams in the fourth annual tournament to be hosted at The Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC).

Each Wooden Award finalist is assigned to one of the SOSC teams, and trades his or her playing experience for an afternoon of coaching, calling timeouts, leading huddles and calling plays.  Past participants in this event include Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Brandon Rush, Alando Tucker, Adam Morrison, J.J. Redick and Brandon Roy.

WHEN:
Friday, April 9th
Times:  11AM-1PM
SOSC Award Ceremony:  1:15PM
SOSC GAME OPEN TO THE PUBLIC & FREE ADMISSION; RSVP REQUIRED! Call:  (213) 630-5231
MEDIA:  PLEASE RSVP to [email protected]

WHO:
The top five players from this year’s John R. Wooden Award All American Teams and Special Olympic Coaches include:

Men:
James Anderson, Oklahoma State
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia
Sherron Collins, Kansas
DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
Wesley Johnson, Syracuse
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
Jon Scheyer, Duke
Evan Turner, Ohio State
Greivis Vasquez, Maryland
John Wall, Kentucky

Women:
Maya Moore, Connecticut
Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska
Jayne Appel, Stanford
Tina Charles, Connecticut
Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford

WHERE:
The Los Angeles Athletic Club
431 W. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
Special Olympics Southern California has been changing lives through the power of sport for more than 40 years. Special Olympics offers opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and competition. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community. For more information about how to compete, volunteer, coach or donate to Special Olympics Southern California, visit www.sosc.org.