Former Sacred Heart High School standout Mustapha Heron has done a lot to raise gun violence awareness through the Mustapha Heron Skills Academy and Reading Program, and the work continues next Saturday.
The “Shoot Hoops Not Guns” Gun Violence Awareness Preseason High School Tournament will take place at three different locations in Waterbury. Those locations are the River Baldwin Recreation Center, the North End Recreation Center, and Chase Park House.
The Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury is partnering with the Mustapha Heron Skills Academy in what it’s calling a “Stop the Violence Campaign.”
“The Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury Inc. will be the fiduciary organization for these events,” according to a Facebook post by the group. “The proceeds of these events will help our organizations provide further opportunities for young men and women by way of scholarships for high school and college education as well as vocational training. Moreover, we would like to work collaboratively with municipal and state police to create a buyback program for the future.”
As for the teams involved in the tournament, well there’s a whole bunch. For starters, Sacred Heart, Holy Cross, Crosby and Waterbury Career Academy will be there. DeVonne Parker will bring his Nonnewaug team to the tournament. There are several other Connecticut teams coming, along with some squads from upstate New York and Long Island. Teams in the tournament are guaranteed three games.
Go to the Mustapha Heron Skills Academy website to see the game schedule.
