A Northview High School graduate and former professional basketball player has found a unique way to give back to his community and the school’s basketball program.

Daryl Cohen, a 2003 NHS graduate, has invited the AND1Live Tour basketball team to Bratt, Fla. to take on a star-studded team of players with Northview ties.

“I want to give back to the community,” Cohen said. “I’m trying to bring some excitement to the area. Some kids will never get to see those guys play.”

Proceeds from the event on Friday, April 26 will go to the NHS basketball program.

Taking on the traveling showcase of streetballers in the exhibition game in the school’s gym will be a team Cohen put together himself. It consists of college and professional teammates as well as Anthony Hayes, a Northview graduate, who played for Alabama A&M; current Northview coach Mandel Smith; assistant coach John Madison; Leonard White, former Chiefs’ coach and Los Angeles Clippers player; Northview player Neino Robinson and Tony McAdory.

After graduating from Northview in 2003, Cohen spent a season with Pensacola Junior College. He earned All-America honors there before moving on to Pearl River Community College in Mississippi, where his team won a junior college championship. He moved on from there to Southeast Louisiana University for the next two seasons before being invited to camp with the Golden State Warriors.

He won Rookie of the Year honors with the Dusseldorf Giants in Germany and the team won back to back championships before he was signed by the San Antonio Spurs, but never played there.

Doors for the event open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7. Pre-sale tickets are available at the school office for $10. Tickets at the door will be $12, but the first 200 visitors will get door tickets at $10 as well.