Team Focus Mentors Fatherless Children in Mobile

A few warm-ups, lots of drills and the echoes of basketballs filled the Knollwood Church Auditorium Saturday.

The 30 boys participating in this basketball camp all have one thing in common - their fathers are absent from their lives. "My father died when I was two," said Jakerien Russell. The 11 year old attends Clark-Shaw Magnet school and says joining Team Focus helps him to build relationships with kids dealing with similar circumstances. He's even been sort of a mentor. "To talk to other kids around my age, that you can do all things through Christ," he said.

These young men are learning from the best. Former University of South Alabama basketball coach Ronnie Arrow is volunteering his time. "If you let them focus on things like this, then chances are they are going to stay out of trouble. When I was at South Alabama, I got into the community. I didn't realize how good the talent is at the lower levels. There's no reason why there shouldn't be 4,5,6,7 division one players coming out of Mobile every year," said Coach Arrow.