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Hobbs’ professional basketballers are good ambassadors

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Buck Vandermeer

NEWS-SUN

According to the laws of physics, “a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest.” I have learned a great deal about bodies in motion following the careers of Hobbs brother and sister professional basketball players Adrianne and Ronald Ross. The world travelers are constantly on the move.
I caught up with them on Monday to talk about their careers and their upcoming youth basketball camp.

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Ronald Ross plays professional basketball for a team in Croatia.

Ronald Ross plays professional basketball for a team in Croatia.

“I just signed my ninth professional contract in Cluj, Romania,” Adrianne said. “I am really looking forward to playing with a new team in a new country. As awesome as it is to be doing what I love, my favorite part is soaking up new life and cultural experiences in Europe.”
“For both me and Ronald, one of the great experiences is that we are often the first Americans that some of the people in Europe have ever met. They are eager to meet Americans.”
Last year she played in Gernika, Spain she said, and she thought it was a great experience but a tough year.

Adrianne Ross playing for her team Cluj Napoca in Romania.

Adrianne Ross playing for her team Cluj Napoca in Romania.

“I played through injuries and really needed a break when I came back home,” she said. “Shortly after I arrived back in Hobbs, I was approached about different coaching options. I entertained the thought because I have so much passion for kids and the state of New Mexico. I talked about this with Jeff Taylor Sr. He said he thought I should play as long as I can because the other stuff will always be there. I decided that I will play as long as I am effective. That is why I am looking forward to getting back this season and continuing my career as a player.”
Ronald, who is entering his 13th season in European basketball, also has been thinking about his career and life after basketball.
“I have been giving a lot of thought to when I should end my professional career and go on to something else,” he said. “I just signed a one-year contract in Keravnos on the island nation of Cyprus. This is a tough league. There are a lot of former NBA players and many good young players from around the world. These old legs are getting tired but I know I can play a couple more years. After that I want to coach at the college level.”
“That is the way it always goes,” Adrianne said. “I sign a contract where it is cold and he signs with a team on an island paradise.”
Our conversation turned to the upcoming Ronald and Adrianne Ross Basketball Camp which will be held in the Lovington High School gymnasium this Saturday.
“This is our fourth basketball camp,” Ronald said. “We started out doing the basketball camps as fundraisers for local people in need. This year we wanted to expand the camp to be county wide and concentrate on giving the best experience we can for the kids of Lea County.”
“When I was a kid it would have meant the world to me to talk to a college All American or professional basketball player,” he added. “This year we have high school All-Americans, college All-Americans, and professional players including a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.”
Adrianne is using the camp to open the door to get Harlem Globetrotter Joyce Ekworomadu to Lea County.
“(She) is one of my closest friends,” Adrianne interjected. “I have been wanting to bring her here for a long time but she has a busy schedule. We basically scheduled the camp around her schedule. She has been a member of the Nigerian National team and has overseas WNBA experience. She is extremely talented, has great energy and knows a lot of tricks. She has a huge social media following and everyone will see exactly why this Saturday.”
Ronald said the camp will sport two former Red Raiders.
“Darryl Dora and Jay Crockett both played at Tech before launching professional careers in Europe and Japan,” he said. “When I asked them to come they didn’t think twice. Jordan Murphee is also coming. She was a McDonalds All-American before becoming a Lady Raider. She will be a lot of fun to watch. There will also be former and current players from NMJC.”
From the entertainment world, will be well known Hobbs born Trak Zilla.
“He is a is a D.J. and producer who has worked with many of the great recording artists from around the county,” Ronald said. “He is a great person and will there to talk to the kids.”
“Two other things I want to say,” Adrianne said. “We want to make this camp fun for all the kids and their parents. If parents want to come on the court to take photographs we will accommodate them.”
“The other thing is,” she continued, “none of this would be possible without our sponsors, the First American Bank, Bob’s Thriftway, the Burkett-Shaw Reality, Legendary Services and Kenny and Elaine Wallace.”
The Robert and Adrianne Basketball camp for children ages five to 18 will begin at 10 a.m. at Lovington High School, 701 West Avenue K, in Lovington. The doors will open at 9:15 a.m. and there is a $40 registration fee.
The road to this basketball camp did not begin just a few weeks ago. It began on a playground in Hobbs a couple of decades ago with children playing pick up games in a park. This is going to be an exciting event and if my old legs will carry me up there I will sitting in the front row.

Buck Vandermeer is a freelance writer for the Hobbs News-Sun.

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