Press Releases

Jan 17, 2000
Basketball Star Curtis Small Is a "Big" Role Model

Southampton College Player Mentors Underprivileged Child

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Curtis Small sees a lot of himself in 9-year-old Kenji Canty, a fourth grader at Southampton Elementary. Like Curtis, Kenji is a bright young student who loves basketball. They're both from single-parent homes.

Curtis, who overcame several obstacles growing up in Brooklyn, became a Southampton College success story. Last year, he led the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in scoring with 22 points per game. This season the 5-foot-11 junior guard is pacing the best Colonial squad in years with 14 points per game as the team has a 7-2 conference record.

Now, through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Long Island, Curtis wants to help kids avoid some of the obstacles he faced. He was paired with Kenji and the two meet once a week at Southampton College. Fourteen Southampton College students are also involved in the program. "Bigs" and "littles" not only play sports, but use the College's facilities to design pottery, bake cookies and study marine life.

"When I heard about the program I felt it was my responsibility to be a role model, because I didn't have that growing up," Curtis said. "I try to stress to Kenji to do your schoolwork first and the sports will always be there. He's listening."

Cindy Perrier, Regional Director for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, said that Curtis is the star of the program. "All the kids gravitate toward him," she said. "He really understands what kids go through and talks to them in a way that's not condescending."

Lauri Haines, Director of Student Activities at Southampton College, said that children in the program come from different backgrounds, races and genders. "They all come into the program for various reasons; some are latchkey kids, others are only children or shy," Haines said. "Having it on campus helps show these kids that they can aspire to go to college. It shows that education can be fun, with hands-on projects, and college students can be diverse." "Southampton College Home Page"