Kids Compete in Jeremy Maclin's Annual JMac Pack Classic

Youth basketball teams from all around St. Louis and the nation competed in the fourth annual Jeremy Maclin Back to School Pack Classic this weekend.

The event, held at Missouri Baptist University and Parkway West High School, was a fundraising event for the charity foundation created by Philadelphia Eagles’ wide receiver and St. Louis native Jeremy Maclin. The Jeremy Maclin Foundation helps empower children from alternative living situations.

“It’s just another opportunity for me to give back to the city I come from and also interact with the youth,” Maclin said. The NFL football player graduated from Kirkwood High School, where he played football and basketball, and played football briefly as a Missouri Tiger before declaring for the NFL draft in 2009. “You know I’m a sports fan, and basketball was my second favorite sport growing up.”

Maclin signed autographs and took pictures with kids in between tournament games Sunday afternoon at Parkway West.

“He comes out, spends time with the kids and signs autographs, takes pictures,” JMF manager Isaiah Mares explained, while Maclin autographed basketballs and posed with players for pictures. “But we also sponsor a number of teams from all over the city to make sure they can play teams from all over the country.”

The Jeremy Maclin Foundation is sponsoring another basketball tournament, next month, but Maclin won’t be present because training camp with the Eagles' new coach Chip Kelly begins July 25.

“This season’s a pretty big change. It’s the first time I’ve played for anyone else in the NFL other than Andy Reid,” Maclin said. “I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be pretty exciting. I think Chip is bringing a whole new mindset, a whole new swag into the NFL and into Philly.”

The Jeremy Maclin Arch Meltdown will be held in St. Louis, on July 26, 27 and 28.