Trent Tucker making a difference

Trent Tucker arrived in 1978 from Flint, Michigan where he grew up to play basketball for the Gophers. His impact was significant and everlasting. He helped bring home a Big Ten championship in 1982 and his banner hanging in Williams Arena will always remind us of his greatness. Trent went on to have eleven successful years in the NBA. When it was time to settle down and find a place to call home, Trent's choice was Minneapolis.

Unlike many athletes who struggle with life after retiring from their sport, Trent move seamlessly to his next career. Trent works in broadcasting with the Big Ten Network as well serving as a host for the boys high school tournaments and a frequent contributor on KFAN. He runs the Trent Tucker Basketball Camps and and is also the Senior Vice President of Community Outreach and Community Development at the University of Minnesota. But, what Trent has really become known for is his successful non-profit organization that he started in 1998 to raise money to support inner-city youth in the community.

Trent started his first celebrity golf tournament and asked his former teammate Michael Jordan to be a celebrity guest. Jordan has been back every year since and the tournament has raised over one million dollars for Tucker's youth programs and other local charities.

This year his celebrity golf and poker event will be held at Rush Creek Golf Club September 17-19th. More information can be found at trenttucker.org.

I have worked with Trent at both the Timberwolves and at the state tournaments and it is always a pleasure to watch him interact with the crowds of people (young and old) who want to meet him and hear his stories. He is affable, funny, and a great basketball mind.

Trent came to Minnesota more than 30 years ago and provided us with his gift for basketball. But more importantly he has shown us how athletes can use their lives to change others. Lucky for us Trent made the decision to make Minnesota his home many years ago and our state certainly is a better place with him.