Advertisement

USF great Charlie Bradley to lace them up for charity basketball game

 
John "Coach J." Johnson and former University of South Florida basketball great Charlie Bradely have teamed for the Charlie Bradley Roundball Classic, set for Saturday (April 28) at the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Sports Center. Photo courtesy of John Johnson.
John "Coach J." Johnson and former University of South Florida basketball great Charlie Bradely have teamed for the Charlie Bradley Roundball Classic, set for Saturday (April 28) at the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Sports Center. Photo courtesy of John Johnson.
Published April 24, 2018

TAMPA — In basketball, players utilize moves to help win the game.

Why not apply those same skills to help youth win at life?

That's the goal John "Coach J" Johnson had in mind when he created "Charlie Bradley's Roundball Classic," which takes place on Saturday (April 28). The event at the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Sports Center will include an All-Star game featuring high school players from Hillsborough and Pinellas schools followed by a celebrity game with former NFL receiver Darren Howard and comedian J.B. Ball.

The highlight, however, will be watching Bradley lace them up again. He's the first basketball player to see his jersey retired at the University of South Florida and stands as the all-time leading scorer with 2,319 points. Along with another legendary player, the late Cuda Patterson, he helped the Bulls reach the National Invitational Tournament in 1983 and 1985.

"He's like a basketball icon in the community," Johnson said of Bradley. "I was just wondering who in basketball is relevant in the area and his name came up."

Project Uplift teaches character-building skills but uses basketball as a vehicle to capture the teens attention and pull them in, he said. Johnson, who played four years at the University of Michigan, founded the program in 1995.

"We give them life skills and try to build a foundation with them," he said.

Proceeds from the tournament will support the organization's traveling basketball team.

"We gotta keep the kids off the street and develop life skills with them," he said.

The All Star game will tip off at 1 p.m., and the celebrity game starts at 2:45 p.m. The games are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and children 10 and under are free. Tickets will be available at the gym. Prior to the event, 3 or more tickets may be purchased on Project Uplift's tickets page.

For more information, contact Johnson at projectuplift39@yahoo.com or visit ProjectUplift.net.

Contact Kenya Woodard at hillsnews@tampabay.com.