Khalid El-Amin hosts Celebrity Basketball Invitational Weekend July 13-14

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 07/12/2007

 

 

Larry Fitzgerald interviewing Khalid El-Amin as a North High star

Photo courtesy of Al Perlman

Former North High School graduate Khalid El-Amin is one of the very few athletes who has won basketball championships at three different levels: high school, college and professional. El-Amin became a high-school legend in Minneapolis, leading North High to three straight State Boys’ Basketball Championships.

He then went on to star and lead the University of Connecticut to the school’s first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance and a men’s championship in the thrilling 77-74 win over Duke in 1999.

El-Amin now plays professional basketball for a living. He was drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls in 1999 and has played for the Miami Heat as well. He now plays overseas and has twice been an MVP in leading his professional team to championships.

His team, Azovmash, in Mariupol, Ukraine, captured the 2006-07 Ukrainian Championship 88-75 in the final game, winning the championship series 3-1 over BC- Kyiv. El-Amin as usual led the way with 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the championship game. He was selected the MVP of the championship series and the league MVP.

This weekend, El-Amin returns home to Minneapolis July 13 and 14 to host the Khalid El-Amin Celebrity Basketball Invitational Weekend at Target Center. He is a terrific young man, and his family has done great things in this community for a long time. The El-Amin Fish House on West Broadway is legendary.

 Many of El-Amin’s friends will be on hand to participate in the All-Star Game, including but not limited to all-stars Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers, Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers, Richard Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons, Shareef Abdul-Rahim of the Sacaramento Kings, Rashad McCants of the Minnesota Timberwolves, NFL star Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, Jay Foreman of the San Francisco 49ers, former Minnesota Viking Matthew Hatchette, and many other celebrities and athletes.

 It’s all for a great cause, the expansion of AL-Maun, the community outreach programs operated by Masjid An-Nur. The events start with the 4 pm Friday, July 13, Players’ Photo and Autograph Party at the Mall of America Rotunda. The Fundraising Dinner starts at 7 pm at the Downtown Minneapolis Radisson Hotel Ballroom. For the Celebrity Basketball Game itself on Saturday, July 14, the Target Center doors open at 12 noon, the pre-game party is at 1 pm, and the game starts at 2 pm.