Allan Houston: Playing Above The Rim in Norwalk

Allan Houston was a deadly accurate shooter during his NBA career. In 12 seasons. The former New York Knicks guard averaged just over 17 points per game, while shooting nearly 45 percent from the field.

Houston is now taking aim at something a lot more important than basketball. He's developed a program geared toward helping men become better fathers to their children. 

The former Olympic athlete and University of Tennesse basketball player was at the Norwalk YMCA on Saturday afternoon overseeing his program while working with father's and their kids.

"Nobody's perfect, we know that" said Houston, who is currently an executive with the New York Knicks. "But there are certain skills and fundamentals of being a man and a good father. I don't think anyone is really prepared be a dad. But I want to share what I had and what my father taught me." 

What Houston had was a special relationship with his father. Wade Houston coached Allan at the University of Tennessee, and his father was always there to guide him and give him good advice. They've teamed up to develop a program that focuses on Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership, and Legacy.

"If you really understand those principles, it gives you a good foundation and baseline,"said Houston. "We've tried to build a model that will have a lasting impact." 

The two-hour session at the Norwalk YMCA included relationship-building opportunities for fathers or father-figures and their middle-school age boys and girls. Houston has incorporated some of the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into his program. 

"To have our team bring the content of what Dr. King tried to teach is invaluable. What greater man can you have as a legacy?" said Houston. "This is about passing your experience down to the next generation. Every man, when they have a child, wants to pour something into them that can make them better than we were. That's what we're trying to make possible."

This is the second year Houston has implemented his program at the Norwalk YMCA and the reception and reaction has been all positive.

"It's been great and the people at the YMCA have really supported and done a good job helping make this all happen."