MASON, Ohio — Wednesday's games at the Linder Family Tennis Center offered Division I college basketball players a unique experience. John Mobley, a guard for Ohio State, noted, "It was fun, a new experience. I never played outside on a court like that, maybe in a different area, but it was fun and a good experience for the guys."
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Mobley and his Ohio State teammates took part in the fourth annual Caresource Invitational, an event initiated by University of Dayton head coach Anthony Grant in memory of his daughter, who died by suicide. The event aims to raise awareness about mental health.
Jerrod Calhoun, head coach of the University of Cincinnati basketball team, emphasized the importance of addressing mental health issues, stating, "We have to spread this news, because I think so many of our young people are getting sideways with social media and all the different things and the pressures, and we want our guys to be open with us."
This year marked the first time the event included the four largest college basketball programs in Ohio. Ohio State competed against Cincinnati, followed by Xavier facing Dayton. The event drew large crowds and raised funds for mental health and suicide prevention organizations.
Caresource reported that the event has raised over $500,000 in its first three years to support various mental health organizations across the country. Jillian Fortson, a volunteer with Caresource, remarked, "Mental health and well-being is for everybody; no one should ever feel like they're above or below mental health. They shouldn’t feel like their problems are too big or too small for that; the mental health that is here for the athletes is also here for you and I."