A Home Town Basketball Star High Schools Jersey is Retired

Former Bartlett Golden Bears Mario Chalmers number 15 was officially retired during a school assembly. The Miami Heat point Guard hopes his story will inspire Alaskan kids to shoot for their dreams.

Tools

By KTVA CBS 11 News

Story Created: Aug 16, 2011 at 10:01 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 16, 2011 at 10:43 PM AKDT

Mario Chamlers went from the courts of Bartlett High School to the courts of the NBA.

And now his high school number will forever bear his name.

Chamlmers attended an assembly in his honor today at his old alma mater where he said, "it is just good to be back at home, come back to the gym where everything started. BARTLETT!"

In front of the entire school body, his family and friends Chamler's number 15 was officially retired.

The Anchorage Basketball legend played for the Bartlett Golden Bears from 2001 to 2005. From there he made his way to the Kansas Jayhawks. It was in 2008 while playing for the Jayhawks that he gained national fame after a game changing shot. Today he plays point guard for Miami Heat.

Chalmers says he hopes his story and today's ceremony will inspire other Alaskan kids to shoot for their dreams, "I hope it just gives kids the drive and the motivation to make something of themselves. Me, coming from alaska, people dont know anything about Alaska. They think we dont have anything up here. For me, I'm the last guy to put Alaska on the map, to try to keep it going from there, I hope it gives kids motivation."

With the upcoming season in the air because of the continued NBA lockout, Chalmers says he would be open to playing overseas until a deal is reached.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.