Lower Merion High School Gets A Kobe Bryant Gym
(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Kobe Bryant will have some additional business to take care of in Philadelphia next week when the Lakers pay their annual visit to the 76ers. Bryant's alma mater, Lower Merion High School, will be holding a dedication ceremony for the newly named Kobe Bryant Gymnasium in honor of the homegrown All-Star.
"It's cool for me," Bryant said on ESPN. "That's obviously where playing in the NBA kind of became a realistic goal. I put a lot of work in, a lot of hours in that gym, with a lot of people that support me and still support me to this day. It will be cool to go back there."
The event on December 16 will feature live music, sports celebs and other yet-to-be-named mystery guests. All tickets and sponsorships proceeds will go to the Education Foundation of Lower Merion. According to Philly.com, Lower Merion has sold out nearly all 1,100 tickets, including $25 GA seats and $250 VIP seats w/reception.
Kobe led Lower Merion to a state title in 1996 and then headed directly to the NBA. According to ESPN, "Bryant still calls his high school coach Gregg Downer when the boy's basketball team makes the playoffs and Downer puts his cell phone on speaker for Bryant to give the Aces a pep talk. He also makes regular trips to the high school in the offseason to show the current team his workout techniques and to say hello to old friends."
Lower Merion's new $100 million high school has been six years in the making, and Kobe donated $411,000 to a fund providing the district with "a series of inspirational, interactive, and educational displays," says Philly.com.
Now lets see if Kobe can get his own Wawa.