These young ladies personify just how outstanding girl's Public League basketball is.

There's really nothing around here for anybody to do except hang out at basketball courts and hang out on the street.

As proud as we are of you for the way you grew on the basketball court, we're even prouder of the way you've grown academically. You took the role of student/athlete seriously, and you're seeing the results of all that work now.

I used to be more into basketball because I have a goal at home. I would shoot hoops with my cousins, but now I really like soccer. It's a real man's game.

I have a great amount of respect for the charitable role Mr. Iverson and other basketball stars play within their communities, ... Many of these sports stars are role models, and actively participate in charities benefiting the underprivileged youth of the American inner cities. There are players who will undoubtedly be fined by the league for dress-code infractions, so it makes sense to put the money to good use.

We have had some discussion [within the Chicago Public School administration], and I'm always open-minded when it comes to ensuring the safety of kids. Cost is always going to be an issue with things like this, so we would have to address that, too.