Derek Malloy is looking to sell out the EGHS gymnasium Saturday night for what he’s calling the First Annual 2eZ All-Star Game. He’s bringing together 24 top high school basketball players from around New England – including EG’s own Ben Chester – for a special all-star game to benefit the son of EGHS phys ed teacher Bob Downey.
Jake Downey, 9, was born with congenital hydrocephalus, causing brain injury and several serious medical complications. Jake is unable to walk and requires complete assistance for all his daily needs and care. Money raised through the all-star game will go toward buying a handicapped accessible fan for Jake and his family.
“I’ve known Mr. Downey since I was really young since he is a figure in the East Greenwich community, so I thought if I do a charity it would make me feel better if I knew the money was really going to make a change in somebody’s life,” Malloy said.
Malloy, who will graduate in June, is doing this for his senior project. While he doesn’t play basketball, he has a website devoted to Rhode Island basketball (high school and college) and is the owner of the @RIHoops twitter account, which has a very respectable 3,230 followers.
“I’m a very social person with the goal of being successful and not wasting time on meaningless things. I don’t play any sports at the high school. I focus more on the business aspect and behind the scenes stuff in professional sports,” Malloy said via email.
“Next year I am planning on doing an internship with an NBA agency and taking a couple college courses at the same time working towards a degree. I’m also looking at Providence College, Syracuse, and Kentucky as a four-year option.”
He said he was able to get all the players to come for Saturday’s game “because of my involvement in New England basketball. All I had to do was talk to them on the phone and make sure they were able to attend.”
Some of the players have already signed to play at such universities as Notre Dame, Syracuse and Oklahoma State. The rosters are posted below.
Before the main event, there will be a dunk contest will take place before the game. Special guest coaches are hip-hop artist and former college basketball player Mike Stud and former NBA player Chris Herren.
Bob Downey, who also coaches the Avenger Boys Baseball team, this is another example of the EG community supporting his family.
“Derek has done an incredible job planning this event,” said Bob Downey, who also coaches the Avenger Boys Baseball team. “It is just another example of how generous this town has been to the ‘Jakeman’ and my family. They have really made Jake and our lives so much easier. The amount of love towards my family from the people in East Greenwich has been incredible and we cannot thank the town enough. We are eternally grateful.”
Team rosters (college commitments in italics):
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