Robert Morris University’s men’s basketball team is gearing up for its March Madness opener scheduled for Friday, March 21, 2025, in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the university opened its doors to a different kind of event on March 19, hosting a unified basketball clinic that brought together youth athletes from various backgrounds, including those with disabilities.
This special clinic was a collaboration between GameChanger, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Special Olympics Pennsylvania, aimed at promoting inclusivity and sportsmanship among young athletes.
For Johnathon Oaks, a GameChanger Stay and Play Champion as well as a Special Olympics athlete, the court is much like a canvas where he can bring everyone together. "You get to bring everybody together," Oaks shared enthusiastically. His efforts in leading the clinic underscored a mission of unity and teamwork, encouraging participants to overcome labels and barriers. "Remove the labels, remove the barriers and we're highlighting abilities, not disabilities," emphasized Andrew Fee, the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
According to Melanie Seiser, the Cavaliers’ Vice President of Youth Sports and Community Development, the clinic was organized months in advance, and its timing alongside Robert Morris’s participation in March Madness is a happy coincidence. “We had this planned for months so it’s just weird serendipity that it ended up like that,” she noted.
Participants had the opportunity to engage in various activities throughout the day, leaning on the expertise of the Cleveland Cavaliers Academy, which has a long-standing history of community engagement initiatives in Ohio. “It’s gonna be a lot of things like shooting and dribbling,” Seiser remarked while detailing the exercises planned for the young athletes, which also included defensive drills.
The Cavaliers Academy’s involvement is particularly significant as there is no NBA team in the Pittsburgh area. “We’re crossing state lines, but it’s still so near and dear to us,” Seiser noted, underlining the commitment to youth development in the region.
As the clinic unfolded, athletes enjoyed a day filled with shooting, dribbling, practicing skills, and forming friendships. “We’re all about fierce competition, but while you do that, experiencing joy,” explained Fee, creating an atmosphere where fun and competition seamlessly coexist.
For Oaks, witnessing the enthusiasm of the young athletes participating in the clinic was a joy. “I’m really excited everybody's here,” he expressed. “And I’m really excited that everybody's gonna get the chance to learn and play some basketball.” His sentiment encapsulates the essence of the initiative: creating lasting memories through sports.
This clinic marks the first time these partners have collaborated for such an event. However, both Oaks and Fee assure that it certainly won’t be the last, indicating plans for more events in the future that will continue to promote inclusivity and the joy of the game.
The excitement swirling around the Cleveland Cavaliers and Robert Morris University this week highlights the positive impact of sports as a universal language that connects individuals from diverse walks of life. With growing community support and collaboration, events like these pave the way for an inclusive future for all athletes.
