With over 10,000 points scored in a 14-year NBA career, Donyell Marshall could probably find many other places to spend a weekend in May than in Providence (RI) watching AAU basketball. However, Donyell Marshall is not your average NBA star. Just spending a few minutes on DMarsh42.com, the official homepage of Donyell Marshall, and ou will see why as the Reading (PA) native is very involved with his foundation that is helping out kids constantly, including scholarship programs, basketball camps, athletic equipment and giving kids a chance to see the action of the NBA in person.

The former Connecticut star, who averaged 25 points a game as a junior in the 1993-1994 season for Jim Calhoun, was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 4th pick of the NBA draft in 1994. In his three-year career at UConn, Marshall scored 1,646 points and grabbed 695 rebounds in 91 college contests.

Alex Schwartz recently caught up with Donyell Marshall when he was in Providence watching one of the AAU teams of his Donyell Marshall Foundation compete in the Providence Jam Fest put on by the Hoop Group. Read on to see the interview with Donyell Marshall:

Schwartz: What’s it like for you, coming out here and [being with your] AAU team? There’s a lot of guys in your status who have a team named after them, but don’t actually show up at the games. What inspires you to actually go out and be with the team?

DMarsh: “Well, I like to just sit back, but I like being here. I think it gives the kids inspiration and they know that I’m not the one just to put my name on it. I actually care about the kids.”

“One day, we always go out to eat. I talk to the kids and just let them know that I’m a normal person. I think it actually inspires them. They hear about us (NBA stars) not being good guys, or not being friendly and stuff like that, but for them to be able to just talk to me and see that I’m there cheering them on and giving them advice is always a good thing, knowing I’m not just putting my name on a jersey.”

Schwartz: What led you to get involved with AAU basketball?

DMarsh: “Well, I never had the chance to play AAU basketball. I didn’t really go to basketball camps when I was younger, either, and I just wanted to get these kids the opportunity to be able to do something that I was never able to do, and I think it really helps them out, especially where I’m from. It gives a lot of kids a chance to get and see different parts of the country that I know that they would never see.”

Schwartz: What’s been the best moment of your basketball career?

DMarsh: “For me, obviously playing in the [NBA] Championship last year [with the Cleveland Cavaliers], but also with a lot of these kids, I have [had] kids on my team that are in the NBA now, Royal Ivey is one guy to name that played on my team and is in the NBA now. So, some of those things are the most important in my life, the most fun part of my career.”

Schwartz: Do you still keep in contact with any of those guys, and if so, what do you talk to them about?

DMarsh: “When I see them I just ask them how they [are] doing. I’ve sent a lot of kids to college, and right now it’s just very difficult obviously, with my schedule and their schedule, but [when] I see them, I just ask them how they [are] doing, and keep wishing them well.”

It is evident that Donyell Marshall is not in the AAU basketball business for money or publicity. Rather, the number four selection in the 1994 NBA draft is involved with grassroots hoops because he genuinely cares about the kids on his DMF teams. Marshall is a positive influence for the players to look up to, and is someone who can guide them along the right path on the hardwood. Donyell Marshall is truly one of the NBA’s good guys.

Alex Schwartz is the President and Writer of Northstar Basketball. Visit his site for complete interviews and other player updates from his travels around the AAU and high school basketball circuit.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 3:47 am and is filed under Connecticut News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.