New York Knick Enes Kanter talks Islam, guarding LeBron, at Prospect High
New York Knicks professional basketball player Enes Kanter paid a visit to Prospect High School Monday - not only to talk to the school's boys basketball team about Xs and Os, but also discuss his Muslim faith to a world religions class.
"He covered everything from fasting during Ramadan, to covering LeBron (James)," said John Camardella, Prospect's boys basketball coach and teacher of the social studies elective course.
Camardella, who has taught the popular course since 2009, met Kanter during a basketball camp the 6'11" center hosted last summer at the Mount Prospect-based Turkish American Society of Chicago. Camardella stayed in touch with Kanter's manager, which led to Kanter's appearance Monday.
His visit came at a perfect time for the class, which just wrapped up its study of Islam. And Ramadan - the monthlong period of prayer and dawn-to-dusk fasting - begins Tuesday night.
Kanter, whose family is from Turkey, has been banned from the country after criticizing its president and other political activities.
He's scheduled to speak during a public event at Prospect's field house at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 17, followed by a question-and-answer session. Earlier in the day, Kanter will hold basketball camps for Prospect students.