My Summer

By Adonal Foyle

Every NBA player strives to make it to the NBA Finals. And as a member of the Orlando Magic, I was able to do that this past season.

The downside of having played until mid-June is not having a very long summer. But I've managed to make the most of what little time I have this offseason. Obviously, I've been spending a lot of time training. I have my own workout routine and I also find time to play a little basketball. I'm back in the San Francisco Pro-Am League, playing for SF City and it really gives me a chance to go up against some of the best ball players the Bay Area has to offer. During one game, I had a chance to play some point guard and even drained a three-pointer. The crowd at Kezar Pavilion went nuts. It was great.

More than anything else, I've been spending a lot of time writing. I've done a lot of research working on my thesis in sport psychology (the topic is NBA players going through retirement).

One I completed my research, I went back home to the Caribbean to hold my annual Athletics and Academics Basketball camps. This year's camps were truly remarkable because we had more than 1,500 kids take in the camps over a two-week period and we were able to educate the kids with basketball as well as AIDS awareness, the importance of literacy, reading and basic sport psychology. It was a really terrific time.

I brought a great team of players with me (Courtney Lee of the New Jersey Nets, former players Bo Outlaw and Clifford Ray, former Harlem Globetrotter Roy Byrd and Erika Ruiz, who plays for the St. Mary's women's basketball team).

I feel truly blessed to have been able to make an impact on so many kids' lives. As we move on, these kids will be taking this experience and hopefully show other kids the way to live a good and healthy life. If I'm able to change one life, it will have been worth it.

As of today (August 17), I'm still a free agent. My agent has really been on the ball with helping me find the right situation. We're still waiting to see what's out there. In the meantime, I'm still working out, staying in shape and trying to get better at my craft. Hopefully, when the right time comes, I will be ready to go.

That's all from me for now. I will be back soon to let you know where I wind up.

Until then.

- Adonal