Steve Kerr hasn’t lost his touch. That much was certain on Sunday, when the former Wildcat icon highlighted the Tucson Summer Pro League’s All-Star Charity Classic by hitting nearly every shot he took from the field.
“”I don’t play very much anymore, but every time I play, I remember how much I love the game,”” said Kerr, the guard who was 10-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers. “”And to come out and help (league director and former Wildcat) Corey (Williams) … put the game on – we had a big crowd, a good cause. This was a fun day.””
Proceeds from the event – which featured a host of former Wildcats including Williams, forward Joseph Blair, guard Kelvin Eafon, former guard and current assistant coach Josh Pastner, and former women’s basketball guard Felicity Willis, among others, facing off against a group of local TSPL All-Stars – went to Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Primavera Foundation for the homeless.
Nearly 400 fans packed into St. Gregory College Preparatory School to see Kerr and his teammates take a 104-97 decision, a turnout that impressed the current TNT NBA analyst and Phoenix Suns consultant.
“”Where else can you go and put together a game like this and fill up a high school gym with 40-year-old guys like me with gray beards who people still cheer for?”” Kerr said. “”It’s amazing.””
Added Pastner: “”We have the greatest fans in the world. The support is what makes our program the elite.””
Though there wasn’t as much at stake as last Tuesday’s MLB All-Star game, in which the winner got home-field advantage in the World Series for their league, the participants seemed to enjoy themselves just as much.
“”Hey, I fulfilled my dream,”” Pastner said with a smile. “”I was playing in the backcourt with a pro.
“”Even though I was about 2-of-22 – I was jacking it up – I was trying to get (Kerr) to be the leading assist man, so I could probably play in the league,”” he added, still smiling.