LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Basketball Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson made a stop in the Hill City on Friday to encourage the next generation.
On his way to Roanoke from his home in Harrisonburg, Sampson visited the Lynchburg Boys & Girls Club to give some game-time advice.
Standing 7’4″, Sampson is an NBA all-star who started his career here in the Commonwealth. As a player at the University of Virginia, Sampson was awarded college national player of the year three times.
He went on to play professionally for the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Washington Bullets.
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On Friday morning, Sampson spent time shooting hoops, sharing stories from his basketball career and offering life lessons that reach beyond the court.
He said pouring into the younger generation is one of the most rewarding parts of his career.
“To come back to this Boys and Girls Club and to see these kids has been always something that is in our family to do and give back,” Sampson said. “So I enjoy it, and seeing their smiles and faces like that is really special for me.”
Sampson said that becoming a successful athlete starts with being a good kid. He encouraged the children to focus on motivation, attitude and a plan, reminding them that success is built long before game day.
He also shared his own journey to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Sampson credited supportive coaches, strong motivation and a commitment to hard work for helping him reach his goals.
Sampson said he hopes to return to Lynchburg with his sons to host more basketball clinics and continue mentoring young people in the community.
“Especially in the state of Virginia, we like to leave our footprint,” Sampson said. “We’ve got some programs we want to institute here with the city and a scholarship program for kids. So we want to leave an impact. You know, I just like to give back.”
