Pipe a small amount of

SAMZ Continued from Page 07 After transferring to Ball State prior to the 2017-18 season, Samz had the opportunity to volunteer at the Ball State kids camp hosted by the women’s basketball team. It was there she had the opportunity to take a young player under her wing and mentor her: Addison Jenkins.

Samz said Jenkins was shooting by herself at the camp and was too shy to make friends. Samz saw this opportunity to take her under her wing and include her with the group.

“I know being an outsider sucks, especially at basketball camp when you are a little kid,” Samz said. “I went over there and invited her to come over and play with everyone else. She was my partner for the day, and I stayed with her the whole day, even though I wasn’t supposed to, so Addison would have a friend.”

The friendship between the two started because of basketball and has developed into something more. Jenkins’ grandmother, Melissa Messersmith, said she has enjoyed the relationship between the two.

“When she walked in, she was shy. She didn’t know what to do,” Messersmith said. “Jasmin just looked over and saw her standing there and went over and talked to her. According to Addison, she showed her how to shoot the basketball.”

After that shy first day of camp, Jenkins quickly began to open up and was ready to get Samz’s autograph by the end of the week. When asked about Samz, her face lit up.

“We always go to basketball camps and play basketball together,” Jenkins said.

This season, Samz was able to make it to one of Jenkins’ basketball games to show her support the same way she had for Quirt.

“It was a surprise for her when I walked in, and she saw me. Her jaw hit the floor,” Samz said. “That warms your heart. It was the feeling that you would have when you win a National Championship, but it’s just someone coming to watch you play.”

Knowing the impact she has had on Jenkins has helped Samz realize the impact basketball can have. For Samz, basketball has come full circle.

“I don’t think the circle or the cycle is over because I think Addison and my sisters will do the same,” Samz said. “I think it happens all over the country and on all platforms of sports. I think that is the best thing about sports. We all have a platform, and we should all use it to mentor younger kids or whoever.”

Jenkins’ love for the game of basketball has grown since meeting Samz, and she has

Graduate student guard Jasmin Samz drives to the rim Feb. 29, 2020, at John E. Worthen Arena. Samz averaged just fewer than 10 points per game in her final year as a Cardinal. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN

had the opportunity to sit right behind Ball State’s bench with her grandparents.

“She looks up to Jas as this person that is the end-all-be-all. She really considers her a role model that she wants to model herself after,” Messersmith said. “She says she wants to be No. 24 and play for Ball State just like Jas.”

Samz has offered for Jenkins to call her up whenever she wants to go shoot around in the gym. When asked about what stood out about Samz, Messersmith said it was one thing.

“Her character, absolutely, and the way that she plays the game,” Messersmith said. “I think Jas has a more personal level for doing what she’s doing. She’s so much more than a basketball player. She’s someone that you would love your child to be like, or granddaughter in my case.” Seeing Jenkins sit right behind the bench at every home game cheering her on reminds Samz basketball is more than just a game. For Samz, it’s a little more personal.

“Sometimes, you get caught up in things like scouting reports and scoring. That’s not really what it’s about,” Samz said. “It’s about the people.”

Contact Grant Covey with comments at gacovey@bsu.edu or on Twitter @grant_covey.

FOR THE KIDS

Danny Pinter raised money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie with his bench press performance at the NFL Combine.

Zach Piatt Assistant Sports Editor

The first 17 reps are like nothing, the bar almost bouncing back and forth from his chest to an arm’s length above.

The next five take a bit more effort, the two 45-pound plates on each side seeming to weigh a little more, but he keeps the same pace.

He pauses for an extra second, arms extended and elbows locked.

Down, up. He struggles but pushes through to complete the rep. He pauses again. Down, up. His arms almost give in, but he’s still able to get it all the way to the top. One last pause. The bar hits his chest again, but it stalls halfway through the rep, and he is assisted in racking it.

Former Ball State offensive lineman Danny Pinter sits up and walks off the stage Feb. 27, having just raised $1,977 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie with 24 bench press reps of 225 pounds at the NFL Combine.

Pinter said he was shooting for 25, but he was pleased with how he performed. “I’m pretty happy with it,” Pinter said. “I mean, that was the range I wanted to get. It’s a little different when you’re out there than when you’re just in the gym training. All in all, I’m happy with the results.”

Pinter partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs in early February with a Pledge It campaign in which people could donate either a flat amount or a certain amount of money per rep he completed on his bench press test.

At the time of his test, flat donations had already surpassed $1,000, and each rep was worth an extra $38. When the donation period ended March 5, the final total raised was $2,160.

“I kind of joked with him and said, ‘I’m pledging for you. Don’t make me go broke and rep out 30 reps,’” Ball State offensive line coach Colin Johnson said with a laugh. “In a sense, my wallet’s a little happy he hit 24.”

To really think that somebody who, while they’re pursuing their dreams, takes even the five minutes to say, ‘You know what, I want to give something back to the kids of this community’ is great.” - JASON NEWMAN, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie

Pinter said he is appreciative of all the support he received through this campaign, and it just shows what the people of Muncie are all about.

“The Muncie community is awesome. I think everyone knows that,” Pinter said. “I think that’s just another example — there’s a ton of people, and everyone cares about the betterment of Muncie and the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs, so that’s awesome.”

According to its website, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie opens its doors to kids every day after school and all day during the summer “to ensure that our youth have a safe, fun and positive environment to be a part of.” By doing so, members have opportunities to “achieve academic success, to be instilled with good character and citizenship and to maintain healthy lifestyles.”

Jason Newman, chief executive officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie, said he didn’t hesitate when the idea of this campaign was presented to him. 4 See PINTER, 14

BALL STATE SPORTS

VS. LINCOLN MEMORIAL Worthen Arena, 7 p.m. March 13 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL • FREE ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS

March 13 BASEBALL

VS. DAYTON First Merchants Ballpark Complex, 3 p.m. • FREE ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS

March 18 BASEBALL

VS. PURDUE FORT WAYNE First Merchants Ballpark Complex, 3 p.m. • FREE ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS

March 21 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

VS. OHIO STATE Worthen Arena, 7 p.m. • FREE ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS •ESPN3 or ESPN+