Nearly a dozen years ago, Larry Gadsden decided that a teenage basketball player needed a second chance to prove himself to those who doubted
him. Never mind that the player was his son. “I never believed in telling a kid what they couldn’t do,” Gadsden said earlier this week. Instead, the former New York City playground basketball star used his contacts to put together a charity basketball game, and a passion was born. “Larry Legend” and his streetball tour have done between 300 and 400 appearances since that day in the Bronx, in 1997. But every one of them has had the same focus: Keeping children motivated to be the best they can be, at whatever they want to do. “I’m blessed, point blank, period,” Gadsden said. “If someone asks me to come and speak, I’m never too tired. You can never be too tired of giving out the knowledge you had.” Gadsden starting handing out second chances after he received one himself. He admits that he made a ton of mistakes as he became rich and popular for his exploits on the basketball court.
For Saturday night’s event at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, Gadsden said he wants to show local children that staying in school is important to their future, as well as make inroads with them before a summer camp he and some of his traveling squad will run.