Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2006

Contact: Contact: Mike Emery
713.743.8186 (office)
713.415.6551 (pager)
pemery@uh.edu

HOUSTON, January 31, 2006 – For four days in February, the University of Houston will be the place where dreams can come true for a handful of pro basketball fans.

UH’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC) has been selected as the site of the 2006 NBA All-Star Fantasy Camp Feb. 16 - 19, where fans can be coached by pro legends such as former Cougar and four-time NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong, backboard blaster Darryl Dawkins and the “A-Train” Artis Gilmore.

“It will be an honor to have these basketball greats on our courts,” said Campus Recreation director Kathleen Anzivino. “Our state of the art facilities are a perfect setting for this event.”

In addition to Birdsong, Gilmore and Dawkins, other scheduled participants are former NBA stars Calvin Murphy, Sidney Moncrief, Alex English and Bobby Jones.

The fans involved in the camp have registered and paid fees to attend this event. They will receive an official NBA uniform and gift bag and will have an opportunity to be photographed alongside the participating hoops stars.

The camp kicks off with a reception Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Westin Galleria. The next day, campers will hit the CRWC courts to practice under the supervision of the assembled superstars and later will attend a draft party to be selected for teams. On Saturday, Feb. 18, teams will resume practice and play in scrimmage games at the CRWC. The camp will culminate in an early-morning championship game at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 in Houston’s Toyota Center hours before the 2006 NBA All-Star Game tips off.

“I am looking forward to returning to the UH campus, seeing some old friends and making new ones at the camp,” Birdsong said. “This event is an NBA experience like none other, and I am extremely happy to be a part of our campers’ basketball fantasies becoming a reality.”

For more information on the NBA All-Star Fantasy Camp, visit www.BirdsongSports.com.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.