Desmond Bane, MSCS host school supply giveaway
Loyale Blakemore, 10, left, gets a photo with Desmond Bane during MSCS’ Back to School supply giveaway at the Memphis Sports and Events Center. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
For the fourth straight year, Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane hosted a “Bane’s Backpacks” school supply giveaway, this time in conjunction with Memphis-Shelby County Schools two days before the 2024-25 school year.
More than 300 people lined up outside Memphis Sports and Event Center before the event, with the earliest arriving hours before doors opened. The district said they gave out more than 3,000 backpacks.
Smiles were in no short supply. A boy named Dylan said it was “awesome” to meet one of his favorite NBA stars. But one thing about Bane surprised him.
“He looks taller,” Dylan said.
Dylan’s mom, Alyssa Payton, appreciated the chance to meet Bane — and to go home with backpacks full of free school supplies.
“With inflation and having four children,” Payton said, “it means a lot to be able to curb the expenses of back-to-school.”
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Desmond Bane Memphis Grizzlies MSCS Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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King Jemison
King Jemison is completing a journalism master’s program at Northwestern University. After graduating from Stanford University in 2021, he taught elementary school in Memphis for two years.
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