LOBC To Build Basketball Court In Memory Of 1996 LHS Grad Friend

On a sunny October afternoon, a group of sixth and seventh graders converge on Kauffman Park, the city’s centrally located and only basketball court. The boys ride their bikes from opposite ends of Lakewood to play a game that they love. It’s a common sight these days as the youngsters break away from their video games to break bread over basketball and newly formed friendships. This has been a recurring scene during the summer months. Kids playing, making friendships, and building lifelong relationships with others they may have not otherwise met. This is precisely why the Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee (LOBC) lobbied for places for kids to play. “Those of us who have benefited from playing outdoor sports in this city have been positively impacted with lifelong friendships, physical fitness, and a sense of community. This was an important part of my childhood in Lakewood,” states Jordan Tadic, co-founder of LOBC.

“We are happy to announce our next location at Lakewood Park," continued Tadic. The group is memorializing the court after Mark Vincent Dickens (MVD), a former class of 1996 Lakewood High School (LHS) graduate who passed away at the age of 30 from testicular cancer. “Like most of us, Mark grew up playing basketball in Lakewood Park for countless hours after school and throughout the summer. Many friendships and bonds that we still have today were formed on these courts,” says former LHS classmate, Mike Gorman, a close friend of Dickens. “So when we heard about this opportunity to work with LOBC it was a no-brainer for us” states Gorman. The “MVD Memorial Basketball Court” is beginning its fundraising drive for the Lakewood Park location.      

In the coming months, LOBC will be holding a fundraising event with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The event will allow Lakewood kids to play on the Cavaliers basketball court. In the meantime, LOBC is gearing up for a fundraiser on November 25 at the VFW hall in Cleveland. Look for details of the event on the observation deck, the LOBC facebook page, and the LOBC website.

For more information, please visit lobc.org or email committee@lobc.org.

Stephanie Toole

LOBC CO-Founder