Bucks star donates new basketball court to Milwaukee College Prep

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- From one court to another, Milwaukee Bucks star Pat Connaughton unveiled a special donation to Milwaukee College Prep's (MCP) 38th Street campus on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

"A basketball court to me represents a place where communities can come together," said Connaughton.

After an application process, MCP was chosen to receive a new court which school officials say was much needed.

"The condition was rough," said Alfred Keith, Milwaukee College Prep CEO.

Keith says at this particular campus, the gym floor serves a lot of purposes.

"It's where we have our athletics, our extra curriculars are held here, staff meetings are held here, parent meetings are held here, beyond that we have lunch that's actually held here," he said.

Connaughton says the multi-purpose use is one of the reasons the school was selected for a new court.

"Our goal is to pick schools that need it most but also are utilizing the court for more than just basketball and have the ability to really have an impact on the trajectory of a young kid's life," said Connaughton.

MCP is the sixth Connaughton Court since the foundation began in 2016. The Pat Connaughton Foundation's first donated court was St. John's Prep in his home state of Massachusetts. Since then, all the Connaughton Courts have been in Milwaukee.

In the future, Connaughton hopes to expand his foundation's reach internationally.

"Right now, we're focused on the places that have been organic to me. Milwaukee, the place that supports my teammates and I on a nightly basis whether we win or lose and Boston where I'm from that helped get me to where I am," he said.

The Connaughton Foundation also hosts youth basketball camps and clinics. Connaughton says thankful to have a platform that allows him to give back and make an impact.