"As Saturday morning approached the noon hour with the temperature pushing 90 degrees, Cherashore Park at 10th and Olney Streets in Philadelphia was packed with young kids running basketball drills under the direction of three NBA players: Mustafa Shakur, Hakeem Warrick and the Sixers' Andre Iguodala.

Shakur, who grew up in Philadelphia and attended Friends Central, as did Warrick, hosted the inaugural event, dubbed Part of the Solution Community Day. Iguodala was on hand to support Shakur, who he considers to be his best friend from college, despite being Arizona teammates for just one season.

Iguodala addressed the campers and shared his journey to NBA stardom. He began by telling the children that his last name was Nigerian. He said his father was Nigerian and he believes that's where he got his amazing athleticism from.

He encouraged the children to read because he believed reading has helped him mature.

And he insisted they have fun now, before paying bills and taking care of their future children becomes the priority.

Iguodala rarely shows easiness in public. He is always professional and makes himself available to speak with the media because he understands the obligation. But to hear him be so thoughtful in his message to a group of youngsters reminded that often there is more to a person than meets the eye.

"I had a great senior season in high school. From there I got a chance to get a scholarship to the University of Arizona. It just so happened that I played really well there. Coach [Lute] Olson took my athletic skills and the mental and he put them together," Iguodala explained. "And that is what you need in the NBA. In the NBA everybody is fast, everybody can shoot, everybody can dribble, but it's about matching the skills with fundamental side and that's where the drills come in.

"I saw some of you doing the defensive slide drills and learning how to pivot the right way," Iguodala continued. "And learning how to rebound and step pivot to make the outlet to the point guard -- those are the small things that go a long way in the NBA. You see a lot of guys in the NBA who are really talented but never reach their peek. It is more mental then anything playing in the NBA and coach Olson did that for me and then I had an opportunity to get drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004.""