Summertime is usually pretty quiet around Statesboro High School, but for the last three years, Blue Devil alum and current NFL star Justin Houston has brought plenty of life to one hot and lazy weekend.
    On Friday night, Houston rolled back into town — with plenty of his current and former pro and collegiate colleagues in tow — to highlight ‘The Pros vs. The Boro’ basketball event. The basketball fun and games occurred a night before Houston’s third annual youth football camp, which will be held today at Womack Field. The Friday night basketball game began as an informal and fun prelude to the football camp, but has quickly grown into its own event.
    “Justin has always been all about making things about the kids and for the kids,” SHS athletics director Chad Prosser said. “Whether it’s with his youth camp or with some of our high school guys, he does a great job of reaching out and connecting.”
    Last year, Houston and company put on a show for the hometown crowd. This time around, the Statesboro High basketball team got into the mix as current and former Blue Devils joined up to take on the pro team.
    “We’ve got to make something happen,” SHS coach Lee Hill said, midgame, after the pros got off to a hot start. “We’ve got to press and trap. They’re pretty good.”
    In the end, the leadership of one of Georgia’s all-time best prep coaches couldn’t turn the tide in a decisive 75-53 victory for Houston’s side.
    But it was also clear that everyone in town is a winner this weekend.
    In addition to a generous contribution that helped Statesboro residents in need receive Thanksgiving meals last fall, Houston has always strived to give back to the youth in town. At his camp, Houston gives kids the thrill of training and being coached by NFL stars while also making sure to give them a healthy dose of advice for how to succeed off the field.
    “He cares. He cares a lot,” Prosser said. “He spends all the time he can with our kids. It’s great that Statesboro High School has someone like him being that kind of representative for our school.”
    Friday’s basketball game and skills competition was just another step in Houston’s outreach goals. He and his guests spent plenty of time posing and signing for the crowd while also taking time to talk to the SHS squad.
    Of course, some of that generosity faded away after the opening tip.
    “Maybe people forget about what Justin did while he was here,” Hill said. “He’s had a great career in football, but he was all-state in basketball, too.”
    “This is a great experience,” rising SHS senior Tyler Goodman said. “I talked to guys like (Cincinnati Bengals receiver) A.J. Green about how to work toward my goals. On the court, things were different. It was definitely different playing against pro athletes.”