Laker Anthony Davis creates ‘AD LAB’ for high school

Last weekend the NBA All-Stars descended upon Chicago and their impact could be felt everywhere. From Magic Johnson joining ESPN commentator Kenny Smith on a McDonald’s panel to rapper (and producer of The Chi) Common’s huge event on Navy Pier, Chicago was the basketball center of the universe.

Nowhere could that be felt more than last Thursday, when LA Lakers Forward-Center and NBA All-Star Anthony Davis paid a visit to the students at Perspectives Charter Schools – Rodney D. Joslin Campus, his hometown Chicago high school, to unveil his foundation’s inaugural ‘AD Lab’.

The newest community outreach program of The Anthony Davis Foundation, The AD Lab is a collaborative environment where students can engage in hands-on, creative learning. The newly designed space included four different learning stations with 3D printing, music & recording tools and software, video creation capabilities complete with a green screen and robotic programming.

ALSO READ: Chicago becomes center of basketball universe tonight

The space also included new wall graphics to represent the time Davis spent at the Rodney D. Joslin campus and his Chicago roots. Students at Perspectives Charter Schools – Rodney D. Joslin Campus welcomed Davis with a high-five line as he entered the ‘AD Lab’ space and spent time exploring each of the learning stations.

One of the students was even able to create a new song on the music software that received Davis’ approval and praises Kenzie K. from Chicago’s B96, served as the program’s emcee, also spoke at length with Davis about the importance of this space being part of the school and took questions from students to learn more about the NBA All-Star player as a person, a student and his time with Perspectives Charter Schools.

Davis followed the ‘AD Lab’ unveiling by walking around the halls of his old stomping grounds, visiting different classrooms and talking with students, making his visit a slam dunk.

Contact Colin Costello at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1


Last weekend the NBA All-Stars descended upon Chicago and their impact could be felt everywhere. From Magic Johnson joining ESPN commentator Kenny Smith on a McDonald’s panel to rapper (and producer of The Chi) Common’s huge event on Navy Pier, Chicago was the basketball center of the universe.

Nowhere could that be felt more than last Thursday, when LA Lakers Forward-Center and NBA All-Star Anthony Davis paid a visit to the students at Perspectives Charter Schools – Rodney D. Joslin Campus, his hometown Chicago high school, to unveil his foundation’s inaugural ‘AD Lab’.

The newest community outreach program of The Anthony Davis Foundation, The AD Lab is a collaborative environment where students can engage in hands-on, creative learning. The newly designed space included four different learning stations with 3D printing, music & recording tools and software, video creation capabilities complete with a green screen and robotic programming.

ALSO READ: Chicago becomes center of basketball universe tonight

The space also included new wall graphics to represent the time Davis spent at the Rodney D. Joslin campus and his Chicago roots. Students at Perspectives Charter Schools – Rodney D. Joslin Campus welcomed Davis with a high-five line as he entered the ‘AD Lab’ space and spent time exploring each of the learning stations.

One of the students was even able to create a new song on the music software that received Davis’ approval and praises Kenzie K. from Chicago’s B96, served as the program’s emcee, also spoke at length with Davis about the importance of this space being part of the school and took questions from students to learn more about the NBA All-Star player as a person, a student and his time with Perspectives Charter Schools.

Davis followed the ‘AD Lab’ unveiling by walking around the halls of his old stomping grounds, visiting different classrooms and talking with students, making his visit a slam dunk.

Contact Colin Costello at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1