Legendary Richard "Pee Wee" Kirkland Brings National Message to the CIAA as Keynote Speaker at Men's Tip-Off

Taking the CIAA Men's Basketball Tip-off Banquet platform, February 27 as the keynote speaker is the former All-CIAA, All NCAA Small College and Chicago Bull draftee, Richard "Pee Wee" Kirkland.

Richard "Pee Wee" Kirkland

Kirkland graced New York City's Rucker Park asphalt and brought his legendary talents to Norfolk State University where he is said to have been the source for traffic jams at ticket booths. But Pee Wee was also known for his flamboyant moves off the court as a millionaire through illegal means before being of age to vote.

To fast forward a couple of decades, we have a man who has received grace and has found his purpose in life, "To allow young people to see their worst nightmare in looking at my past experience and a better future in the choices Peewee Kirkland made since leaving prison with two felonies…like going to get a Master's Degree and pursuing a Doctorate Degree," says Kirkland.

Taking his love of basketball, he has been able to impact lives through his coaching, winning State Championships and founding the School of Skillz. The School of Skillz program has Kirkland receiving national coverage. He was been featured in the TNT documentary on "Hollowed Ground" the legends of the Rucker Park Tournaments. The former NBA draft pick has chatted with Peter Jennings on World News Tonight. In the main stream print media, articles have been written in Sports Illustrated, Financial Times, Christian literature of the Guide Post, as well as the youth publication, F.E.D.S.

The CIAA family is proud to welcome home one of its own at the Men's Tip-off, February 27, 2001, at the Raleigh North Hilton 6:30 pm.