TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — A cultural exchange took place in Tuscaloosa during a basketball scrimmage game on Thursday.
The matchup between one team from Alabama and another from Belgium happened at Central High School’s gym. It was made possible by the Croom family foundation in Tuscaloosa.
Kelvin Croom is the pastor at Alberta’s College Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where the foundation started in 2018. He says it’s part of a bigger plan to help give local children a chance to go to college.
“That’s our whole goal is to young boys and girls go to college free of charge and to be able to get a college degree and to come back and make a contribution to our society,” Croom said.
Croom’s son Kevin says it was a good experience for his players on the Croom Foundation team, known as the TCF Elite Academy team.
“It feels amazing just to ask us to do this,” Croom said. “Basketball is a game that crosses all language barriers, and to give these kids from small areas around Alabama is amazing.”
Coach Nick Peeters with the Belgium Youth Sports Lions agrees with Croom’s points.
“It’s great to be here and a great learning experience to play against American players because it is a different ball game over here,” Peeters said. “More physical and athletic but it was a good experience for our players.”
The Belgium team is now headed to Georgia and then to Las Vegas to compete in a tournament. Next week, the Croom Foundation team is headed to Hampton Virginia for their next game.