USO Delivers Slam Dunk with ‘Hoops for Troops’ Tour to Hawaii Featuring Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Al Horford and Other Star Players

More Than 2,600 Troops Turn Out as Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Al Horford, D.J. Augustin, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, JaVale McGee and Mike Miller Deliver Smiles to Military Families

EDITORS NOTE:  USO TOUR PHOTOS INCLUDED

Twitter Pitch: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and @al_horford deliver smiles on @the_USO tour to Hawaii alongside other basketball greats!

ARLINGTON, VA. (October 25, 2011) – Eight of today’s biggest names in basketball are hooping it up with troops and their families stationed in Hawaii as part of the ‘Hoops for Troops’ USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. Making the journey across the Pacific were, Chicago point guard Derrick Rose, Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans, Atlanta center-forward Al Horford, Charlotte point guard D.J. Augustin, New Jersey center Brook Lopez, Phoenix center Robin Lopez, Washington DC center JaVale McGee and Miami forward Mike Miller. Throughout the week-long tour, the group are leading youth clinics, sharing basketball techniques, touring military facilities and playing one-on-one with service members.

Details:

• Two days into the week-long tour, the group has dined with troops, visited a Wounded Warrior Center and toured a Stryker and Aviation Unit at Scofield Barracks. The group has also led a youth basketball clinic and played in a “Hoops for Troops” USO basketball game alongside service heroes at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam – collectively lifting the spirits of more than 2,600 troops and military families.
• Tonight’s game was streamed LIVE and viewed by more than 39,000 people courtesy of Hawaiian Stream. Thursday’s game is also scheduled to be streamed LIVE at 7 p.m. HST on Hawaiistream.ihigh.com. Be sure to tune in and watch the action LIVE from Schofield Barracks.
• This is the first USO tour for the group.
• Coming up the group is scheduled to visit Kaneohe Bay – Marine Corp Base Hawaii, where the players will tour the installation and learn even more about military operations.
• In a show of their support to America’s Armed Forces, Wilson Sporting Goods donated 200 basketballs, adidas provided 90 polos and Carson Wrapped Hershey’s Chocolates generously contributed hundreds of candy bars for the players to distribute to military families.
• This USO tour was made possible with help from East West Private (EWP), the Wasserman Media Group and Carson Wrapped Hershey’s Chocolates.

Quotes:

Attributed to Derrick Rose:
“Supporting our nation’s military community has always been important to me. Whether I am extending my thanks to our troops on the front lines, visiting military families back at home, playing ball with wounded warriors, or participating on USO tours like this that are designed to uplift the spirits of those stationed around the globe, it is an honor for me anytime I am able to give.”  

Attributed to Tyreke Evans:
“It is an honor anytime I am able to give back and I appreciate the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and visit with troops and their families on a USO tour.”

Attributed to Al Horford:
“I am so excited to be here and enjoy some down time with our nation’s military families. So far, this tour has been enlightening – I’ve learned so much about the important work our troops do for us and I can’t thank them enough.”

Attributed to D.J. Augustin:
“Prior to touching down in Hawaii, I didn’t know what to expect. Today, some two days into our trip, this USO tour has been amazing and I hope to do many more in the near future.”

Attributed to Brook Lopez:
“I signed up for this tour because I wanted to be able to come out andspend quality time with our military families. I am glad I did as it has been a blast.”

Attributed to Robin Lopez:

“I have had a lot of highlights throughout my career and this tour is now among them. There is something about talking to service members, listening to their stories and meeting their families and being able to extend my thanks directly.

Attributed to JaVale McGee:
“This was a fantastic opportunity for all us and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  I hope to be able to do more things to spend time with our service men and women abroad.”

Attributed to Mike Miller:
“Playing basketball with some of our nation’s bravest service heroes and talking to military schoolchildren has been wonderful. I look forward to my next USO tour.

Multimedia:

Social Media and Other Web Sites:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/the_USO, http://twitter.com/#!/al_horford, http://twitter.com/#!/JaValeMcGee34 and http://twitter.com/#!/m33m
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theUSO, http://www.facebook.com/djaugustin, http://www.facebook.com/TyrekeEvans, http://www.facebook.com/AlHorford, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Miller/13852305139 and www.facebook.com/derrickrose
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/USO4troops and http://www.youtube.com/derrickrose
Web: www.uso.org, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/dj_augustin/, http://djaugustin.com,www.nba.com/home/playerfile/tyreke_evans/, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/al_horford/, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/joe_johnson/, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/brook_lopez/, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/robin_lopez/, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/javale_mcgee/, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/mike_miller/, www.mikemiller33.com, www.nba.com/home/playerfile/derrick_rose/, www.drosehoops.com, www.armedforcesentertainment.com, http://eastwestprivate.com/, http://wmgllc.com/ and http://wrappedhersheys.com.

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About the USO
The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide.  We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.

The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors.  In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President’s Circle Partners: American Airlines and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Procter & Gamble. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381).  To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit http://www.uso.org.

Contact:

Oname Thompson                                               

703.908.6471, othompson@uso.org

Oname Thompson
(703) 908-6471
othompson@uso.org