For the last five years, Indiana Pacers guard Tyreke Evans has been returning to his native Chester to give back to the community with a free basketball camp for local youth, writes Matt Mullin for PhillyVoice.

This year, the camp at Chester High School hosted 160 participants from grades 4-12. Campers received backpacks full of school supplies.

The camp is the fulfillment of a longstanding wish for the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year.

“I just always wanted to do a camp for the kids,” said Evans. “I never had the opportunity to go to a camp like this in my hometown. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

The camp experience comes after a personal tragedy for Evans. His cousin was lost to gun violence last year, a month after he attended the camp. This event helped Evans re-focus on what he was trying to accomplish with the camp.

“I’m trying to help show the kids a way off the streets, talking to them and being positive with them,” he said.

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