NEW YORK | There is little that matches the intensity of the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina on the basketball court. But when former UNC star Wayne Ellington and former Duke star Gerald Henderson, recent first-round NBA draft picks, step onto the court together at the Seeds of Peace Camp on Monday, July 27, they’ll be playing for peace on the same team.
Ellington and Henderson will be coming together under the leadership of Arn Tellem (President, Wasserman Media Group Management and Board Member, Seeds of Peace) as part of the “Play for Peace” basketball clinic at the Seeds of Peace Camp. They will be joined by other National Basketball Association (NBA) standouts and welcomed by 140 Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian and American youth participating in the second session of the unique leadership- and conflict resolution-focused camp.
The camp and the clinic come at a critical moment in the Middle East, given the priority and attention that the Obama administration has given the Arab-Israeli peace process, and the larger outreach to the Arab and Muslim communities highlighted by the President’s June speech in Cairo.
“At a critical moment in the Middle East with renewed interest in diplomacy, it’s important that the players do their part to advance understanding and coexistence,” said Tellem. “Every year, this visit becomes an experience as much for the players as it is for the camp participants.”
NBA stars include top draft picks Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings), Gerald Henderson (Charlotte Bobcats), Wayne Ellington (Minnesota Timberwolves), with NBA “Play for Peace” veterans Brian Scalabrine (Boston Celtics) and Jordan Farmar (L.A. Lakers) returning, and former WNBA star Barbara Turner (Connecticut Sun) also joining in on the clinic. The players will work with the campers on basketball fundamentals and teamwork drills that will help the Middle Eastern and American teens understand the value of cooperation, as enemies become teammates on the basketball court.
“Sports, and in particular, basketball, is a very important part of the camp experience,” said Leslie Lewin, Director of the Seeds of Peace Camp. “The visit of the NBA players helps teach the importance of cooperation and trust, and helps draw attention to the courageous efforts of our campers.”