The Game Rises at Pro-Am 07.18.11 - 10:50am

A combination of bright young NBA stars and future talent with NBA aspirations has made this year's Greater N.C. Pro-Am a huge success and Jerry Stackhouse couldn't be more proud.

Stack teaches the game to some of the players on his Team Triangle G (Charlotte Observer/Robert Willett).

Last week, the league saw John Wall drop in suit up for Jerry's Team Triangle G in a 73-71 win on Tuesday night. Jerry's team featured Wall alongside three University of North Carolina standouts: sophomore Harrison Barnes, junior John Henson and incoming freshman P.J. Hairston. Of course, Stack also suits up for the team:

"Basketball is a year round thing, and this keeps me in shape," Jerry told the Charlotte Observer. "It's good to test myself against the kids, and they want to test themselves against the older players."

Since he grew up in the league himself and was mentored as a young NBA star, Stack has always known the importance of giving back to the next generation of the league, as he told the Observer:

"It's important to give back to the game," Stackhouse said. "When I was coming along I played with (former N.C. State stars Tom) Gugliotta and (Chris) Corchiani. They were there for the younger players, and that's how I want to be."

Wall was a one-man highlight reel in the victory and even hit the game-winning shot. Check out his performance via highlights from NBC, below:

The young point guard, entering his second year in the NBA in 2011-2012, told NBC Washington that he loves the summer league environment that leagues the Greater N.C. has fostered. After all, the Pro-Am is where Wall burst onto the seen in the summer of 2009, prior to his lone season at Kentucky.

"These are the types of games I love when the crowd gets into it," Wall said. "It's a packed house and you put on a show. It's kind of like street ball, but it's inside."

Stack has always been impressed with Wall, but this year he had his eyes on some of the players that will be suiting up for his alma-mater this winter. He was most impressed with Hairston, who many believe has a chance to start at Carolina as a freshman:

"I like the way he lets the game come to him," Stackhouse said of Hairston. "He can score, but he doesn't hunt the ball. He passes the ball well, and all of those guys have a great feel for the game. I'm glad to see us (UNC) bringing in players like that."

Meanwhile, Jerry still gets his from time-to-time, when he's not facilitating for the younger players:

"I've been able to enjoy all facets of the game," Stackhouse said. "It's good to get everyone involved, but you've got to respect me, now, too," he adds with a smile.

Chuck Jones, one of the co-founders of the league, believes the young players are lucky to play with Stack:

"Jerry was always the best," Jones said. "And he could do it all. I've got a paper at home from a game against Rocky Mount when he had 42 points, 24 rebounds, and blocked six shots. These younger players just don't know good he was."

But through his work with the Greater N.C. Pro-Am, Jerry Stackhouse is giving back to the game and showing the next generation how good it can be.

RELATED STORIES

• Stack still giving back (Charlotte Observer, July 8, 2011)
• John Wall's cross country hooping (Washington Post, July 13, 2011)
• Lockout won't stop John Wall (NBC Washington, July 15, 2011)
• NC Pro Am Day 3 Recap (SLAM Online, July 16, 2011)