Orphanages In America

Following in his uncle's footsteps

Norfolk Christian's coaches were rising off the bench last February, preparing to congratulate Cape Henry on winning the conference championship. But as the clock ticked down, senior James McAdoo stole a deflected pass, dribbled to the top of the key and released a tying 3-pointer that sent the game to overtime - and to an eight-point Norfolk Christian victory.

"The year before, I don't think he would have made that shot - because I don't think he would have wanted the ball in his hands," McAdoo's dad, Ronnie, said this month. "But he's more mature, more confident ... and that's one of the reasons we're glad he chose not to leave for North Carolina a year early.

"Because now he is more prepared to help (the Tar Heels) as a player, and he's more prepared for college as a person, too."

It was a year ago that James, whose father is second cousin to former UNC All-American and NBA Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo, seriously considered graduating after his junior season, and moving on to Chapel Hill to help bolster the Tar Heels' thin frontcourt. Playing for a high school that had been known more for cheerleading championships than basketball titles before he arrived, the then-17-year-old wondered if he had outgrown his competition, and needed a new challenge.

But as he and his family gave a (Raleigh) News & Observer reporter and photographer a tour around his favorite Tidewater hangouts earlier this month - the rec center where he first played youth-league basketball, the barber shop where he goes twice a month to keep his afro-fade just so, the cheesesteak shop in Virginia Beach where he often stops off before going tubing with friends on Linkhorn Bay - it was easy to see why it was so important that he chose to stay home for one more year.

"I would have missed a lot of things ... and I would have missed some growing up," said the 6-foot-8, 220-pound James McAdoo, who finally moved to Chapel Hill two weeks ago to take summer school classes and play pick-up ball with his fellow incoming freshmen.

"This year has boosted my confidence a lot - mentally, physically, spiritually. If I would have gone down there (to UNC) a year ago, I would have gotten pulled in a lot of different ways. Now, I'm comfortable with my game and who I am, on the court and off the court."

Since he was a 5-year-old pee wee player - slightly nervous, he remembers, walking into the old rubber-floored Huntersville Rec Center, because so many people would be watching him play - McAdoo has rarely been uncomfortable with a basketball in his hands. It was just a matter of growing into his genetic gifts.

Crebbin Happenings: Forward Motion...

As we loaded the bus for the orphanage, we were greeted by Sa, a local girl we had met at the airport the day before. When we told her what we were there for, she told us she would like to join us, to which we eagerly encouraged her to do.  We love to involve the locals, and have had some join us every trip. Her english was great, and it was nice to see her join right in, interacting with the kids. The children were anxiously awaiting our arrival. After receiving the go ahead by the nannies, Britta, our physical therapist, got busy inventorying the physical therapy supplies that the orphanage already had but had no idea how to use. Some team members cleaned the dusty items and/or pieced some together, while Britta measured and assessed children for various pieces of equipment. By the end of the day she had a child in a wheelchair we had never seen out of bed before, a blind, crib-bound girl up and using a walker, and an adult sized girl standing, coloring while velcro straps held her upright at a work center. Needless to say, this was extremely exciting for us all to see, and we are only on day two! As I was hanging out on the second floor right before lunch, I saw what I thought to be a familiar face walk by me. I couldn't pull up a name, as it was from a few years back, so I asked her what her name was. She replied with Feng Hua. I probably frightened the poor girl when I excitedly responded with "I know you, Flower!" Feng Hua was one of the older children we worked with at the orphanage the first two years we were here. When we inquired about her last year they told us she was attending a school for blind children. Since she graduated, she is back for the summer, and will be attending massage school in another province in the fall.  She said she remembered us from before. It is so rewarding to see her doing well.

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