Good Sports: Brook and Robin Lopez, and Quincy Pondexter

Saturday, June 27, 2015

It was an unlikely accomplishment for one local high school to send three players to the NBA -- all from the same class. And they aren't forgetting where they came from.

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- For the first time since Quincy Pondexter, Brook Lopez and twin brother Robin made it to the NBA, all three former San Joaquin Memorial Panthers were back in the Valley together helping out at Pondexter's basketball camp at Buchanan High earlier this week.

"I've had a fantastic time being here," Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez said. "It's a fantastic program, great kids, high energy, it's just fun to be out here with them."

"On every off season, every chance I get to come back home and throw and event like this, I do it," New Orleans Pelicans forward Quincy Pondexter added. "And to see all the smiles on people's faces and all the people here, it's great to be back home."

It's been some nine years since the trio dominated on the court at Memorial, winning a Valley Championship as seniors in 2006. That memory just one of many over the years as the three have stayed extremely close through college and their respective pro careers.

"It's a lot of fun," Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez said. "Obviously we have a lot of energy, a wonderful rapport together. I think it's the start of something even bigger."

"I think it shows the special bond we have that we all show up, we have our other two starters from our Memorial team out here as well," Brook added. "To have all those guys out here with us shows the special bond we had on the court and the special bond back then."

And coming back to the Valley every summer is a priority for each of them, seeing themselves in the players they work with at camps like Pondexter's. It wasn't too long ago they were the ones listening to big-named Valley natives.

"I can remember going to Ike Austin's came, seeing Bruce Bowen around town who also went to Edison," Brook reminisced. "And that had a huge effect on setting the goals I did in life and wanting to come back to Fresno and inspire and give back to the next generation of kids out here."

"I'm just a Fresno kid," Pondexter said with pride. "So every chance I get to put 559 on the map or put it on a shirt or tell people about it, I tell them it's the best place in the world."

With one last visual reminder to shoot for the stars because you never know what you can accomplish... unless you try.