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Local pro athlete organizes basketball game with police officers

The event was held to build relationships and break stereotypes within the East Moline community. About 100 people were at the day of basketball at Hereford Par...

EAST MOLINE, Illinois -- United Township High School graduate, Kannon Burrage has spent the last three years playing professional basketball overseas. On Wednesday afternoon, he spent the day at Hereford Park in East Moline for a police versus community day of basketball.

"When I come home, people always ask me, Where ya hoopin'? When ya hoopin'? Give me a time and a date and I'm there," explained Burrage. The community support he receives, gave him an idea. He went to his home town police department and pitched them an idea.

"It was one guy coming to the police department and saying, 'Hey - I'm passionate about basketball, so how about we use that as an avenue to get together'," said Captain Thomas Reagan, East Moline Police Department.

Reagan and Burrage organized the event to build relationships between police and the community. About 100 basketball players of all ages filled the same court, which Burrage grew up on.

"When I was maybe some of their age, every single day after school I was over here playing until my mom would drive by and have to come take me home," said Burrage.

At the beginning of the event, Burrage said a prayer.

"Get rid of the boxes that we have put police officers in, and maybe they can get rid of the boxes, if they see any, when they see us," prayed Burrage, out loud, as members of law enforcement, basketball players, and parents bowed their heads.

Burrage's overseas teammates and friends have asked him about police and racial relations in the United States.

"I kind of wanted to have this event, to show them, it ain't all about that. You know, there's places here, where people can come together in unison and have fun, get together, engage with each other, and just have fun," said Burrage.

Several officers from the East Moline Police Department spend a few hours playing pick-up games of one-on-one with kids. The day of basketball ended with a game of officers versus Burrage and his team of other young adults from East Moline.

"Our main goal is to deliver service to the residents who live here," said Reagan.

Community donations from places like, Sluggers, Generations Bar & Grill, Checkers, Whitey's Ice Cream, and Adolph's Mexican Foods went towards gift cards for winners of several competitions throughout the afternoon.

Burrage graduated from UT in 2009. He then went on to play basketball at the University of Texas San Antonio. After college, he played in Europe for one season, then Singapore for the last two seasons. Next season he will play in Australia. Following his career playing basketball, Burrage said he can't see himself leaving the game completely, and that he may want to be a coach.

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