2021 NABC Community Assist Team

Meet 10 College Basketball Players Handing Out Assists Off the Court

The assist in college basketball often seems like an underrated statistic but is truly a quintessential act of teammates working together to achieve a goal. The 10 players selected for the 2021 NABC Community Assist Team used their platforms as college athletes to assist those in need, in and around their local communities and far beyond our country’s borders.

Kamal Aubakirov - Kenyon College

Kamal worked with a non-profit educational organization, “360 Mentors”, that provides college counseling for high school students in his home country of Kazakhstan . The mission of the project is to both expose to and prepare high schoolers for various educational opportunities around the world, so they can come back with the best education possible to help sustain/make a change in Kazakhstan . Since the summer of 2019, over 300 students went through the program, of which many students end up studying in colleges/ universities in Kazakhstan, Europe, Asia, and the United States . Most recently, apart from college counseling, the program was able to extend its reach with new English language learning programs in Taldykorgan and Tekeli, both within 25 miles of Kamal’s home in Almaty . During the pandemic, Kamal’s team at 360 Mentors was able to work with students from 16 different cities of Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and Kyrgyzstan . Most recently, the organization created an additional program which helps students from around Kazakhstan to build socially oriented projects within their communities . “In my thirty years of coaching I have yet to come across a young man as selfless and caring as Kamal. As a player and person Kamal’s focus is always about what is best for the team or group . HIs acts of kindness and generosity are not singular events but rather how he lives his life . He does things not for the attention it brings to him but simply to do what is right and how it can help others . I am amazed by this project but in no way surprised by this or anything Kamal has done. He has made incredible sacrifices to be a student-athlete at Kenyon and we are grateful to have him in our Kenyon community and as part of our basketball program .”

Head Coach Dan Priest Riley Demps – New York University

In early June, Riley Demps and his NYU basketball teammate, Cade Hoppe, crafted a plan to raise money in support of Campaign Zero, an organization aiming to reduce police violence . The timing coincided with blackout Tuesday and the Violets’ rising juniors decided to stage a run-a-thon . Utilizing their regular Instagram feeds, the duo posted information for the run with a flyer on how to join, just four days before the event . It didn’t take long for the support garnered by likes and shared posts found similar initiatives where people did not actually have to run but could financially pledge support to those who could. Demps, a mechanical engineering major, started a Google sheet with volunteers’ information and sent a statement describing the event . People could sign up to run or contribute a dollar a mile while also sharing information on social media . In the Sunday start for the run-a-thon, Demps rolled his ankle early in the run. About eight miles in, he figured he should stop until receiving numerous texts asking if he was still running . Despite the pain, Demps continued walking the final 12 miles. When all was done, the run-a-thon helped raise $65,000 that went directly to Campaign Zero . “Riley is incredibly deserving of being named to the 2021 NABC community assist team . His resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to serve others is a model for all student-athletes to follow .” Head Coach Dagan Nelson

Mason Forbes – Harvard University

Dominic Frucella – Penn State Altoona Mike Fowler – Queens University of Charlotte

Jarkel Joiner – University of Mississippi

Mason spent the last year serving the unhoused population in nearby Sacramento through his volunteer work with the “Neighbor Program,” a community-based organization that focuses on political education, mutual aid and survival programs . He distributes food to the unhoused population every weekend, is teaching a class in the “Neighborhood School” political education program and is helping design national curriculum . Mason also volunteers for his brother’s non-profit, Forbes Sports and Education, teaching life skills classes, mentoring student-athletes in Sacramento, and coaching youth basketball teams . He additionally works for his father’s “Hoops and Homework” program, providing academic support and basketball instruction to students after school . “I am so incredibly proud of Mason for all that he has done, and continues to do, to make the world a better place . Since arriving at Harvard, he has made it a priority to always honor his family by Doing Well and Doing Good – in the classroom, on the court, and in the community . There is no one more deserving of this meaningful honor and distinction . ” Head Coach Tommy Amaker

A volunteer Younglife leader throughout the year, Dom guides, teaches and leads high school and college students in weekly bible study and how to live life in a Christ-like way . He has helped raise more than $10,000 so children may use the funding to attend summer camp . Dom assists the local Elevation Church with its social media page, which has more than 1 .6 million followers, including managing their comments and responses . He is active in the PSU basketball community with a Sideline Cancer clinic and served as a referee at a youth basketball tournament . Dom has committed to more than 100 hours of community service through the Sheetz Fellows Program at numerous local evets including Arts Altoona, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Vincent DePaul Society . During the pandemic, he volunteered to help clean equipment at the Dorman Sports Performance Center in Altoona . “Dom has been a true servant leader for our program, as well as within the campus community and the Altoona community . He has worked with numerous organizations including Sideline Cancer, Special Olympics, Brian Morden Foundation, Go 4 the Goal just to name a few . We are so proud to have him in our program . ”

Head Coach David McGreal

Mike started a student organization on campus in the spring related to racial reconciliation. The first meeting open to all students was the day of the George Floyd verdict . In attendance was our entire senior leadership team including the university president . All students were invited to attend the event with speakers and food as well as mental health counselors . The group has grown over the summer and is currently programming this fall . With aspirations for a career in politics, Mike began his own podcast over the pandemic called Different Perspectives in which he and guests tackle issues of race from the college student point of view . “We are extremely proud of Mike for earning a spot on the NABC Community Assist Team . Mike has been dedicated over the last 14 months to making a difference in our world . His activism and his work in the realm of racial relations is something we can all be proud of .” Head Coach Bart Lundy

As a native of Oxford, it makes sense that Jarkel wants to make an impact on the community . The junior is involved in several community service projects in his hometown . Joiner regularly reads to students across his home state of Mississippi as a part of our Reading with the Rebels Program . He joined this program as a part of the Stronger Together MS initiative that focuses on promoting reading by students in Pre-K through 3rd grades . Joiner also led efforts for Adopt A Basket, feeding local families during the holiday season . He helped spearhead the project, giving back to the local community to ensure those in need have food during this time . “Jarkel epitomizes the phrase ‘you need to root for your community before they root for you’ . He truly cares about people of all ages in our community and throughout our state, and he uses his smile and energy to better their days . Being named to the NABC Community Assist Team is a well-deserved honor for him .”

Head Coach Kermit Davis

Jordan Jones – Marist College

Nathan Nelson – University of South Carolina Corey Kispert – Gonzaga University

Kamron Reaves – Florida A&M University

Jordan serves as Director of Engagement for Marist’s Black Student Alliance, took part in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s “Time Out for Black Lives” reading program in 202021 and attended the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Austin, Texas, while red-shirting in January of 2019 . He has volunteered at the Vassar-Warner Home (retirement community) and the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie . A member of Marist’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Jordan serves as team captain and was a finalist for Marist’s Pizzani Award (recognizing humanitarian efforts) in the 2020-21 school year . “Jordan Jones has been a valuable member of our program both on and off the court for the last three years . Jordan’s contributions on the basketball court are very evident, but his contributions as a member of the student body have made a tremendous impact on our campus community . Through these activities, he has sharpened his leadership skills and gained valuable networking opportunities .”

Head Coach John Dunne

Nathan Nelson has participated in numerous community outreach initiatives during his time at South Carolina . He joined his teammates for the 8K Community Outreach Campaign during the summer months, participating in events at Sowing Seeds, the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity and visiting the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia . At Sowing Seeds, Nathan helped with a gardening project, and he and his teammates hosted a luau at the Ronald McDonald House at the Prisma Children’s Hospital during the campaign . He has also spent time at the Salvation Army, at Harvest Hope Food Bank, with the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, at the YMCA and at a holiday event at Shaw Air Force Base for military members and their families . Nelson was also named to the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Community Service Team . “I’m extremely excited to celebrate that Nathan Nelson, a proud South Carolina graduate and alum of our program, has been selected as a member of the NABC Community Assist Team . Nathan will represent this team with the same passion and tenacity that he represents our university and our basketball program . He has been a champion for numerous initiatives, working to assist those in need in and around our Columbia community .”

Head Coach Frank Martin

Over the course of Corey Kispert’s four years at Gonzaga University, he has found numerous ways to give back to the local community . One of the highlights for the team each summer is getting to spend a day in July at Camp Goodtimes, a week-long camp for children impacted by cancer, hosted by Spokane’s YMCA . Corey has helped bring a smile and excitement to these children each summer since 2017 . Kispert joins one of our assistant coaches at a local elementary school for an annual Donuts For Dads event, an opportunity to speak to the children about the importance of physical health, mental health, and academic achievement . He has also been involved with local AAU programs, Habitat for Humanity builds and Gonzaga’s Bulldog Athlete Ministry (BAM) program . “Corey is an all-timer at our place, I mean, clearly, he’s a first team All-American. That puts him in really, really rarefied air. He’s of the highest character people there is and as good a role model as you could have .” Head Coach Mark Few

Kamron Reaves has a heart for service and giving . His volunteerism and leadership with the Rattlers have been demonstrated throughout his career . Kamron encouraged and led his teammates to assist in the set-up, participation and fundraising for the Tallahassee Relay for Life Cancer Walk and took part in a weekly Life & Social Skills Development Program for underprivileged kids at Walker Ford Community Center . He led a fundraising effort for Habitat for Humanity; raised funds for the Tallahassee Chapter of the American Heart Association; took part in the Relay for Life Walk; and the distribution of food for needy families in association with Food Harvest for America/Florida Baptist Convention . Kamron was actively engaged in encouraging teammates to become registered voters, and to file the paperwork early for absentee voting for those players from other states . He led the team to march in the community wide Soul to the Polls event the Sunday prior to the 2020 Presidential Election . “We are proud of Kamron’s commitment to volunteerism and community service and feel strongly that instilling in our players the importance of service to others is the greatest lesson we as a coaching staff can teach . Kamron embodies that principle both on and off the court .