Two Falcons Awarded Allen Iverson Scholarship

July 10, 2009

HAMPTON, Va. – NBA great Allen Iverson has a reputation as a prolific scorer, but this week he handed out an assist to two promising college basketball student-athletes headed for Saint Augustine’s College.

Iverson awarded scholarships to incoming freshmen Chris Johnson and Nick Chamblee, who will play for Head Coach Lonnie Blow, Jr. on the Falcon men’s basketball team this upcoming season. The official announcement was made this week during a press conference for Iverson’s Crossover Celebrity Invitational Weekend at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton, Va.

The Allen Iverson Student-Athlete Scholarship was established three years ago to help student-athletes from the Tidewater area cover the cost of a college education. Both Johnson and Chamblee played basketball at Hampton (Va.) High School.

Iverson, a Hampton, Va., native, says Johnson and Chamblee are well-deserving recipients of the scholarship. “To know that I had an impact on their lives, that is everything to me,” Iverson said. “Hopefully, I can touch more lives.”

Both student-athletes are grateful for the gift from the dynamic guard. They both thanked Iverson, Coach Blow and Hampton High assistant coach Walter Brower, Jr. during the press conference.

“I consider it a blessing because this money is going to help me during my whole college career,” said Chamblee, a big fan of Iverson who had a 3.8 grade point average in high school.

Johnson remarked: “I am excited because this is going to help me pay for the rest of my schooling. This takes a huge burden off of my family.”

Blow, who was at the press conference, is excited that Iverson picked two student-athletes from Saint Augustine’s College. He is looking forward to adding Chamblee and Johnson to the roster this upcoming season.

“They are real good students, real good athletes and real good people,” said Blow, who coached the Falcons to 19 wins last season in his first as Falcon head coach. “I am excited about getting them in the fold at Saint Aug.”

Both Chamblee and Johnson are the third and fourth student-athletes from Saint Augustine’s College to claim a scholarship from Iverson. Three years ago, the inaugural scholarship award of $50,000 went to two Saint Augustine’s College basketball student-athletes.