New York Jayhawks AAU Club Raises $15,000 for Food Pantries During Pandemic

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Hamidou Diallo spent part of his Sunday running the Jayhawks & Friends 5K race for a good cause sponsored by his old AAU program, the NY Jayhawks.

After he ran in the hot weather, the former Kentucky and current Oklahoma City Thunder guard posted to his Instagram story, “I’m here couldn’t miss this one. Work done.”

All told, the Jayhawks raised about $15,000 that will be used to support six food pantries in New York’s five boroughs as well as on Long Island during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We want to partner with restaurants and then go to pantries and feed these pantries over the course of a weekend,” said Jay David, the director of the Jayhawks and an assistant coach at Long Island Lutheran.

David and the Jayhawks have already raised money to give food, masks and sneakers to front-line workers during the pandemic.

Time to run my 5k in support of the @NYJayhawks and their effort to supply food pantries in communities hit hard by COVID-19. Great leadership by @CoachJayDavid and @CoachDrewMetz!https://t.co/aGNHjP3O79 pic.twitter.com/HqDfmOe91b

— John Buck (@CoachJohnBuck) June 28, 2020

David estimated that at least 50 people ran the 5K, including Diallo, Long Island Lutheran coach John Buck, EYBL directors Andy Borman of the NY Rens and Terrance “Munch” Williams of the PSA Cardinals and numerous players, including prospects Samson Johnson (2021) and Jaquan Harris (2022).

“We had about 30 players and all of those players are Division 1 basketball players so we’re excited about it,” David said.

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