“Midnight Basketball” is now in Colleton County. The doors at the Rec Center may not be open from 10 pm to 2 am, but the premise is still the same; provide a space for kids to have something constructive to do and help to keep them out of trouble.
Midnight Basketball is a program that goes back farther than one may expect. Its origins reach back to the mid 1980’s in Glenarden, Maryland. Mr. G. Van Standifer noticed rising crime in his area. Doing some research of his own, Standifer found that during the hours of 10:00 pm and 2:00 am, particularly during the summer months crime rates spiked mostly involving offenders between the ages of 17 and 22. Standifer advocated for the gyms in the area to be open at night to keep the kids off the street. Participation in the program also meant participating in a “constructive activity to fulfill some need in the community”. The program grew across the country after other cities saw the before and after statistics and realized how beneficial the program could be.
Ms. Eartha Cunningham is the driving force behind “Midnight Basketball” in Colleton County. Around 15 years ago Colleton County had the program. Ms. Cunningham further explained the kids played at Colleton Preparatory Academy. CPA’s basketball team wanted to further their skills and were a part of the plan which had the added benefit of intermingling the black and white communities. “The kids worked really hard together, and did really well,” she elaborates. After the summer was over, these kids took back to school not only basketball skills, but the ability to work with different people and different backgrounds and cultures. As that teamwork progressed and strengthened “Midnight Basketball” exploded. Community members donated various items to the program. However, people grow, kids grow, life happens, and the program faded.
The timing for Ms. Cunninham’s idea to bring it back was perfect. Mr. Romeo Edwards, of the charitable community organization GP Hope, was having the same thoughts of bringing the project back as well. He and Ms. Cunningham connected and decided they wanted to try it again. According to Edwards, they wanted to “engage the community and get everyone together and playing together.” Mr. Edwards in turn contacted Coach Brianna Chisolm. Coach Brie brings basketball fundamentals to the court. Through her the kids do not just come into the gym and shoot around. She teaches the kids the game. There is 30 minutes of skill development before they break into teams and play, and Fridays the kids can showcase what they have learned. A facility was needed for the program to come to fruition and that is where the Colleton County Parks & Recreation gymnasium comes in. Director Aaron Bishop and Romero Edwards had made previous contact early in Bishop’s time as director. Bishop’s ultimate plan has always been to provide a place for kids from Colleton County to have a safe place and the community gets better. Bishop used to play pick up when he was younger and knows how much something like “Midnight Basketball” can mean for a community. It is not just the Colleton County community. Mr. Edwards pointed out that kids from other counties have come to the program too.
The program itself exploded. Within two weeks of the idea being formed it was operational. In true “it takes a village” style community organizations and individuals have come together to make this program happen and grow such as Zeta Phi Beta, Inc., Pi Theta Zeta Smoaks Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Walterboro Alumnae Chapter, Buck’s Pizza, churches, and others who have volunteered their time and/or goods. Everything that everyone has done is very appreciated.
Ms. Cunningham, Mr. Edwards, and Coach Chisolm have not had a moment to sit down and look ahead because of how “Midnight Basketball” has exploded, but whatever plans they have in the future will be for the benefit of the children in the community.
