Felipe's Mission – Former St. John's star hopes to make celebrity classic an annual event

Felipe Lopez returned home to St. John's University with that megawatt smile and charming persona of his, in a black suit nary the high tops or his old St. John's No. 13 jersey.
He didn't shoot or dribble or pass, but last Saturday evening in front of 2,014 at Carnesecca Arena, his first annual Felipe Lopez Celebrity Classic, could eventually turn out to be his most significant accomplishment. More important than his 1,927 career points, good for the third all-time at the Jamaica school behind just Chris Mullin and the late Malik Sealy, or any National Basketball Association (NBA) comeback.
The game - too many celebrities, not enough basketball players, nonetheless a success - was held to raise money for the Felipe Lopez Foundation, whose goal is to promote healthy lifestyles and education for New York City's Latino youth and provide funding for young children involved in sports.
The event, which included appearances by the pop duo from Astoria, Nina Sky; DJ Clue; former New York Liberty point guard Teresa Weatherspoon; and New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, was the first of what Lopez hoped tot be many annual games in the foreseeable future.
&#8220We’re going to continue our work with St. John’s,” Lopez said. &#8220Coach [Lou] Carnesecca did a great job with us, staying patient and making sure we could be successful, and we definitely look forward to doing it again here.”
Admittedly, the game was just a start to what Lopez hopes can be a much bigger event. With larger names and more sponsors, specifically airlines and hotels that can accommodate far more celebrities, he can see the game taking off down the road.
But essentially, the classic attained its goal - to get Lopez's foundation into the minds of New Yorkers. &#8220We plan to raise more and more money. You're going to hear about us,” he said, his eyes lighting up after the lengthy exhibition. &#8220People are going to recognize what we did. It was a little tough, I ain't going to lie. But it was good.” Marbury's late arrival put an appropriate cap to the festivities. The Coney Island-born guard, who played A.A.U. ball on the New York Gauchos with Lopez some 15 years ago, added a palpable buzz to the crowd, signing autographs and talking with fans for a good half hour afterward.
&#8220He's been talking about doing something as far as trying to raise money to help out the community, and you always want to participate in things like that,” said Marbury, explaining his decision to attend.
&#8220Every foundation that's giving back to the community where we grew up, we always try to get involved,” said Nicole Sky, one-half of Nina Sky. &#8220And if he ever needs us again, we'll definitely be a part of it.”
Lopez was the hype of high school basketball circa 1994 as a senior at Rice High School in the Bronx, well before there was LeBron James, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson. That pure smile of his graced the cover of Sports Illustrated even before his first game for St. John's. He went on to average 16.9 points-per-game in a solid, if not spectacular, four-year career for the Red Storm. He would go on to play for four NBA teams, and is now looking to make a comeback.
But along the way he had help, a lot of help, from friends, family and coaches. &#8220I felt that some kids need a foundation, that person who will be able to help them out, give them a lending hand, and this is what we are here for,” he said, expressing hopes of scholarships and after school programs down the road, &#8220to give somebody an opportunity to go to school, and not [have] to worry about things, because we were able to cover [them].”