Before he became a star point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving was a talented kid coming out of The Patrick School in Elizabeth, New Jersey. With five seasons in the NBA already under his belt as well as a one-year run with the Duke Blue Devils, Irving's time at The Patrick School can feel like a distant memory, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten where he came from. In fact, Kyrie is finding a way to give back to his old stomping grounds.
Last November, 12-year-old Spencer Joyner was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, a condition which can result in moderate to severe headaches and brief episodes of blindness. Joyner, who struggles to even walk or draw, is currently unable to attend The Patrick School because of his condition. When Irving was made aware of Spencer's situation, he offered to pay his tuition cost of $11,000.
“It’s very important, especially if you have the means to do it,” Irving said, per Zagsblog. “I’m just thankful that I have a great support system and great financial team that allows [me] to give back to our community and support those kids, not only just the athletes but the students that we have at the school.” Joyner's father, Mel, believes Kyrie also covered a $1,200 medical bill that "mysteriously disappeared" during his son's time in the hospital, adding, “We were putting two and two together and said, ‘Maybe it’s [Irving]."
How does Spencer feel to have Irving helping him out with his tuition, and possibly more? “It made me feel really good and lucky to have one of my favorite players do that,” Joyner said.
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