Omar Calhoun lives for the big games. In his Christ the King career, Calhoun has won two CHSAA Class AA intersectional titles and a New York State Federation Class AA championship. This weekend, he’ll be in New Orleans for the All-American Championship Game. And next year, the 6-foot-4 guard will take his game to UConn, which won the national title last year.
Yet Monday, Calhoun had butterflies in his stomach inside a basketball arena – and he wasn’t even playing.
“I was definitely nervous,” the Royals star said. “I didn’t know what to expect.”
Calhoun and his sister Sierra, Christ the King’s girls basketball star, had front row seats for the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden against the Milwaukee Bucks. Their companion? Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“He’s cool,” Calhoun said. “He’s really down to Earth. He’s a great guy to be around.”
Last week, CK coach and athletic director Joe Arbitello got a call from the mayor’s office. Bloomberg had seen a recent magazine article written about the Calhouns and was intrigued – not just by their basketball prowess, but their upbringing by parents Omar Sr. and Samara, who were basketball stars themselves.
Bloomberg invited the superstar siblings to the Garden to get to know them better. Calhoun called it a huge honor, overwhelming that the mayor knew who he was and wanted to meet him.
“He just talked to me about basketball, what I wanted to study in college – just basic conversation,” Calhoun said. “We talked about basketball and life in general.”
Calhoun said he’s a fan of Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony and couldn’t believe the level of service those who sit in the front row receive. He was somewhat disappointed he didn’t get to meet Spike Lee, who wasn’t at the game. Bloomberg, Calhoun said, also had some inspirational words.
“Basically he was saying that I should always know what I want to do in life, always try to pursue my dream,” Calhoun said.
There has been an incredible level of success in Calhoun’s high school career, this season’s quarterfinal exit notwithstanding. He’s ranked nationally by scouting services and will compete in an All-American game this weekend.
So where does his meeting with Bloomberg rank among the multitude of accomplishments?
“That’s definitely high up,” Calhoun, “That the mayor wants to go to a game with me, I didn’t expect it at all.”