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SALT LAKE CITY (May 30, 2013) - The Utah Jazz announced today that forward and 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Champion Jeremy Evans will take part in the first leg of this summer's annual Junior Jazz road trip, which tips off on Monday, June 3. This will mark the fourth straight season Evans has participated in the Junior Jazz road trip, a barnstorming tour which conducts approximately 42 basketball clinics for 2,000 youth and covers more than 4,000 miles across four states for three weeks each summer.
"We are grateful to the many Jazz fans throughout the Intermountain Region and excited to show our appreciation by visiting these communities for Junior Jazz basketball clinics," said Jazz President Randy Rigby. "Our players genuinely enjoy the opportunity to interact with youth, helping them learn about teamwork, sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles through basketball."
Junior Jazz road trip
| WEEK ONE |
|---|
| <b>Mon, June 3</b> |
| 10 a.m. - Morgan, UT |
| 1:30 p.m. - Evanston, WY |
| 5 p.m. - Soda Springs, ID |
| <b>Tue, June 4</b> |
| 10 a.m. - Kemmerer, WY |
| 1 p.m. - Green River, WY |
| 4 p.m. - Rock Springs, WY |
| <b>Wed, June 5</b> |
| 10 a.m. - Hanna, WY |
| 12:30 p.m. - Rawlins, WY |
| 4:30 p.m. - Lander, WY |
| <b>Thu, June 6</b> |
| 11 a.m. - Big Piney, WY |
| 1:30 p.m. - Pinedale, WY |
| <b>Fri, June 7</b> |
| 11 a.m. - Driggs, ID |
| 2:30 p.m. - Shelley, ID |
| 6 p.m. - Pocatello, ID |
| <b>Sat, June 8</b> |
| 11:30 a.m. - Cokeville, WY |
| 3:30 p.m. - Logan, UT |
The 2013 edition of the Junior Jazz road trip marks the 29th straight year the Jazz has conducted the events, which feature Jazz players running hour-long basketball clinics for kids in participating Junior Jazz towns across Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming. Following each clinic, the Jazz player will sign autographs and pose for pictures.
The initial week (June 3-8) will feature Evans running Junior Jazz clinics in 16 cities in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Additional details on weeks two and three of the Junior Jazz road trips, including specifics on Jazz players, clinics and cities, will be announced at a later date.
Former Jazz greats Karl Malone and John Stockton are among the numerous Jazz players to have participated in the Junior Jazz trips over the years. Most recently, Evans, DeMarre Carroll and Derrick Favors participated in the 2012 youth clinic tour. The Junior Jazz program is the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA and the Jazz is the only team in the NBA to conduct a summer tour.
About Junior Jazz Junior Jazz, the longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, is celebrating its 30th year shaping the face of local amateur sports. Beginning with only 7,133 participants in its initial year, the popular program has grown to the largest in the NBA with 55,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part each year. Kindergartners through 12th-graders are eligible to participate, and individual programs are managed through recreation centers in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. Junior Jazz programs promote sportsmanship, fundamental athletic development and having fun.
Each Jazz player participates in one-to-two Junior Jazz clinics per year, visiting both local and outlying districts, where they speak to youth and conduct a total of 15 basketball clinics along the Wasatch Front each season.
In 2006, Junior Jazz launched a good sportsmanship initiative that recognizes and rewards kids, coaches and parents for being good sports. This year's sportsmanship winners attended a party on March 26, 2013, where Jazz guard Kevin Murphy and center Enes Kanter presented awards to individual sportsmanship winners.
Notable alumni of the Junior Jazz leagues include current NFL players Brady Poppinga (Dallas) and Paul Kruger (Cleveland), ex-Brigham Young University and NBA players Shawn Bradley and Travis Hansen, former college football stars and NFL wide receivers Kevin Curtis (Utah State) and Kevin Dyson (Utah), 2008 American Idol finalist David Archuleta and football little league sensation Sam Gordon.
The continued success of the Junior Jazz program would not be possible without the support from the program's sponsors; McDonald's, Denny's, Merit Medical, Savage Companies, AT&T and Scheels.
About Jeremy Evans Originally selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round (55th overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Jeremy Evans (6-9, 194, Western Kentucky) has appeared in 115 games (three starts) over his first three NBA seasons, averaging 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting .647 from the field. A fan favorite because of his leaping prowess and high-flying dunks, won the NBA Dunk Contest in 2012 and was runner-up in the event in 2013.
The Crossett, Ark., native was the first-ever Utah Jazz draft selection from Western Kentucky and the 43rd NBA player ever drafted out of WKU. Evans and Boston's Courtney Lee are the only WKU players selected in the NBA Draft since 1996.
