A College of The City University of New York
For Immediate Release:
February 1, 2005
Contact: Michael Goldstein
Michael.Goldstein@kingsborough.edu
(718) 368-5666
###
Kingsborough Community College (KCC) located in Brooklyn, New York,
serves approximately 15,000 credit and 15,000 continuing education students
per year. Kingsborough is located on a 70-acre waterfront campus in Manhattan
Beach, on the southern peninsula of Brooklyn. Founded in 1963, Kingsborough
is one of twenty colleges in the City University of New York (CUNY) system,
the third largest system in the United States. www.kingsborough.edu
**MEDIA
ADVISORY **
| FORMER WNBA - NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR, KYM HAMPTON, TO HOLD OPEN BASKETBALL CLINIC ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND AT 2:00 PM IN KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE GYMNASIUM |
 Brooklyn, NY - Born in Noraville, Kentucky, Kym Hampton had a normal
childhood, growing up with one brother, one sister, and several siblings
between her divorced parents.Although at times she felt awkward because of her height (she was always taller than her peers), her family encouraged Kym and often told her that she was "big, brown and beautiful for a reason in the creator's eyes." Always athletic, Kym began playing basketball and running track at age 14. Her life changed when she attended Arizona State University where her vocal abilities blossomed and she obtained her B.A. in theater. After graduation, Kym saw Europe (and Japan) as an opportunity to play professional basketball and pursue music, and did so for 12 ½ years: six in Spain, four and one half in Italy, one in France, and one in Japan. While travelling she soaked up local culture, mastered several languages, and developed the family-like friendships she still maintains today. Kym knew that women's professional basketball in "The States" was on its way, but she had no idea how soon until the WNBA began scouting for players for the 1997 season. She was selected as one of an elite thirty-two, garnering a two-year contract. Hampton started her professional basketball career in Spain in 1985 and was selected fourth overall in the initial Women’s National Basketball Association [WNBA] Elite Draft, on February 27, 1997. She had many highlights during her WNBA career which included starting as Center in the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game, and two playoff appearances. Hampton also received the Rising Star Award from the New York Women’s Agenda for her contributions to the women of NewYork and she rode on the Daily News float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Hampton retired from the WNBA in 2000 after injuries forced her to rethink her career as a professional basketball player. She now pursues a career as both a model and singer. Hampton said goodbye to her teammates and the press in the locker room prior to her last game. "It has meant a lot to me to be part of the WNBA. I appreciate all the attention it has brought to me. The WNBA finally happened after playing for years in Europe and Americans never got the chance to see me play. It is pretty sad, it is sad! [Official Retirement] The celebration at half-time was beautiful, it was wonderful, it was worth my whole basketball career to have it here at the Garden, "The World’s Greatest Arena." Theresa Witherspoon, her former teammate with the Liberty, said “What I remember most about Hampton is that one evening following a game which she limped through, when she was leaving the Garden by a side entrance, a group of young children saw her and approached her for autographs. She stopped three different times as she proceeded home in pain and signed every child’s autograph, on 31st Street. Hampton will be back as a champion in another endeavor.” Hampton will give a lecture and a basketball clinic at Kingsborough Community College on Wednesday, February 2nd at 2:00 pm in the Physical Education Building. Members of the Kingsborough Women’s Basketball team, the Kingsborough Wave, will participate. The event is open FREE to the entire community. Kingsborough Community College is located at 2001 Oriental Boulevard in the Manhattan Beach section of Brooklyn. For further information on the event please contact the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Kingsborough at 718-368-5696.
|
News || KCC Home