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Cleveland native Charles Oakley to host All-Star pep rally at alma mater John Hay High School

Oakley, who played 19 years in the NBA and was an All-Star himself in 1994, wanted to 'make a difference' in his home community.

CLEVELAND — *EDITOR'S NOTE: The above video is from a previous story.

The NBA All-Star festivities are already getting underway in Cleveland, and one of the best rebounders in league history has decided to return to his hometown to help those in need.

Charles Oakley will host an All-Star pep rally Wednesday afternoon at his alma mater, John Hay High School in University Circle. The event will benefit the Charles Oakley Foundation, which has worked to raise money for underserved communities.

"It was only right, with the NBA All-Star coming to my hometown, that I got my team together so we could get out in the community to make a difference," Oakley said in a statement.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Oakley was a star at John Hay before playing 19 seasons in the NBA, most notably in New York from 1988-98. He averaged 11.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game as an All-Star himself in 1994, the same year the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals.

Credit: Bill Kostroun/AP
New York Knicks' Charles Oakley (34) gets in front of Chicago Bulls center Bill Cartwright as they reach for a rebound during Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, May 22, 1994. The Knicks won 87-77.

Radio station Z 107.9 will partner with Oakley during the rally, which will take place at the high school auditorium beginning at 1:30 p.m.

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