SOLON — A trio of University of Iowa men’s basketball players spent a little time in between their classes and practice to help Solon Intermediate School (SIS) students celebrate Read Across America Week last Thursday.
“We were just trying to think about how we wanted to build some excitement for reading for kids, for Read Across America Week, and it just so happens my son works for the Iowa men’s team and he was able to get me in touch with the SWARM,” said SIS Principal Melissa Holtz. The SWARM is the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Collective supporting student athletes in all 22 University of Iowa athletic teams. Holtz reached out to them and asked for some of the players to come to SIS to wrap-up Read Across America Week. ““I did request some specific players because they’re my favorites on the team, and then the SWARM reached out to the guys and they were able to get them here,” she said.
Brock Harding (6-0 freshman guard from Moline, Illinois), Owen Freeman (6-10 freshman forward from Moline, Illinois, and Pryce Sandfort (6-6 freshman forward from Waukee) came, visited each classroom, then took turns reading Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade with illustrations by Don Tate, and Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss before putting on a little basketball demonstration of their own and taking on SIS staff in a little 3-on-3 play.
Solon Intermediate School students high-five University of Iowa men’s basketball team players (from left) Pryce Sandfort, Owen Freeman, and Brock Harding Thursday, March 7. Harding, Pryce Sandfort, and Owen Freeman read to the students as a finale to Read Across America Week.