Former NBA and Charlotte Hornets standout Kenny Gattison shared his inspiring message with the Legion Collegiate Academy boy's basketball team on Monday morning at the Rock Hill charter high school.

Gattison, now 60 and a native of talent-rich Wilmington, NC, was a 1986 third round draft pick out of Old Dominion University by the Phoenix Suns and then played for the Hornets for six years from 1990 to 1995 before closing out his playing career with the Atlanta Hawks. He was the 1986 Sun Belt Player of the Year, is a 1,000-point career scorer and ODU's record-holding career rebound leader. Following his playing career, Gattison spent 17 years in the coaching profession as an assistant of the New Jersey Nets (1996-1999), his alma mater ODU (2001-2003), Charlotte Hornets (2003-2009), and Atlanta Hawks (2010-2012).

Now living in Charlotte, Gattison remains involved in basketball by offering youth camps in his hometown for the past two years and his own non-profit Help Us Help Them.  His goal is to teach life lessons that can be used on and off the court. "I just want to be an inspiration and encourage kids to be successful at whatever they set their minds to whether it's being a professional athlete or working a job that serves the community," he says

He told the gathering of 23 players that now is the most important time of their lives.  "You get to decide how you're going to shape yourself, how you're going to mold yourself, and what kind of man are you going to be.  You can either get it right or you can screw it up.  There is no in between. You think it has something to do with sports. It has little to nothing to do with sports," said Gattison.

"I want you to learn one word from what you hear today. Remember this word--'intentional'. Be intentional with everything you do in your day, in your week, in your life, in your month. If you aren't intentional with your life now you can make a mess.  It's alright to make a mess, but don't make a big mess! You're going to hit a pot hole or a speed bump, but don't go off the cliff. That's what living and learning is. It's an experience. The mistakes you make now will cost you years down the road. Whatever choice you make in life has a consequence. So just know that you need to be 'intentional' about what you want to be. As you get older you will find out there are things you can't control, so manage the things you can manage in your life.," he said. 

The bottom line message he left with the players is about the importance of being 'intentional' as they move forward in life and to make sure they build strong character, integrity, and honesty.  

Head Coach Ricardo Priester's varsity team will open the 14-game home season on Tuesday, Nov. 12, against Westminster Catawba Christian  at 5:30 p.m. The junior varsity Lancers, coached by Angelia James, will play at 4:00 p.m. to open its 11-game home schedule.