AURORA — Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Warfield has played the basketball shooting game H-O-R-S-E before, but on Sunday night she played against Denver Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony.
And as Jasmine, a junior at Gateway High School in Aurora who plays for the girls varsity team, matched Melo by hitting a shot from the foul line, the crowd in the school gymnasium went wild – cheering for her.
“That was fun. After I got over my nervousness, I was hitting my shots,” Jasmine said afterward.
Anthony appeared at Gateway and worked out with Jasmine, and the girls and boys varsity teams, after the teen won a national essay- writing contest sponsored by shoe retailer The Athlete’s Foot.
The night also included a raffle of items signed by Anthony, including basketballs, jerseys and posters.
The raffle raised money for Gateway athletic programs and the local nonprofit program Achilles Kids, which supports disabled athletes.
The school and the nonprofit each accepted checks for more than $1,700.
At one point during the fundraiser, Anthony pitched an alley-oop pass to a boys varsity player, who dunked the ball. As the crowd, more than 150 strong, went crazy, Anthony flashed a wide smile.
A short time later, with some coaxing from Nuggets mascot Rocky, Anthony also dunked an alley-oop setup.
Jasmine said she learned a lot by watching Anthony shoot 3-pointers – “he keeps his elbows in” – and copying his form.
“I never hit so many 3’s in my life,” she said.
Anthony said he’s happy to help kids while raising funds for good causes.
And, he, too, took something from the night, he said.
“Just to see how happy they are and how much fun they have … it’s always great to see a kid smile,” Anthony said. “If I can see one kid smile, it makes my day.”
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
