ESJH alumni game benefits athletics, heroes
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, August 10, 2016
RESERVE — While most St. John the Baptist Parish residents were making preparations to go back to school this week, a few were prepping to “take it to school.”
East St. John High School basketball coach Yussef Jasmine has put together the first Basketball Showcase, an alumni game that will pit former Wildcats players against a pair of teams from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, Recreation Department and others.
Among those scheduled to take part in the event are St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre, former Wildcats standout player-turned-coach Ryan Perrilloux and St. John Parish Recreation Director Kerry Watkins.
“It’s about school pride,” Jasmine said. “I’ve been looking for a way to get our alumni involved with the school and the current team and do some community outreach. I think this is going to be good. It’ll be big.”
The fun starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at the East St. John High gym with the first of two preliminary games. A championship final is slated for 7:30 p.m.
There will be a D.J. providing entertainment and refreshments. The East St. John Drumline, the Sugarettes and the Hollywood Highsteppers will be performing.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Proceeds will benefit the East St. John athletics department and the Fallen Heroes Fund.
Watkins was still working on putting together his team Monday and refused to divulge any information.
Tregre refused to provide any bulletin board material for his would-be opponents.
“I am not in good enough shape to trash talk anybody,” he said. “I just want to ask somebody if can we play half-court.”