Danish Hoopsters Visit MacArthur High School

MacArthur High School’s annual Jeff Shaw Memorial Basketball tournament had an international flavor this year.

A team of 35 players from Denmark’s Hjemly School competed the tourney at MacArthur on Dec. 3-4.

It is held in remembrance of Shaw, a Levittown resident who lost his life on 9/11 and whose children played basketball in the Levittown School District.

During the school day, the Danish visitors shadowed MacArthur students while attending classes. The visitors stayed in the homes of the MacArthur players.

MacArthur coach Eric Rubin said playing with American teams helped the Danish players improve their game. Many of the students are younger than the MacArthur kids and are not as advanced with their court skills.

“The experience on the court for the Danish players is amazing,” Rubin said, “but pales in comparison to the experience off the court.”

Rubin said by spending time together, the visiting team and MacArthur players engaged in a valuable cross-cultural learning experience. “Each season, this experience is one of the highlights of the year,” Rubin said.

Photo courtesy of Levittown School District.