Christmas came early for 100 Mobile County students Thursday afternoon when professional basketball player DeMarcus Cousins brought his “Santa Cuz” shopping spree to his hometown for the first time.
Mikell Tucker, a second grader at Whitley Elementary, pushes a cart full of toys in Target, as part of the Santa Cuz shopping spree in Mobile Thursday.
A total of 20 students each from five MCPSS elementary schools were invited to Target and allowed to spend up to $200 at the store, as part of the event. Brazier Elementary, Collins Rhoads Elementary, Ella Grant Elementary, Robins Elementary and Whitley Elementary were the five schools.
While this is the first time the former LeFlore High School standout has brought the event to Mobile, Cousins has hosted a free basketball camp at his old school and offered free eye exams to students in the past. The Sacramento Kings’ forward has hosted shopping sprees in the California city as well.
Over the summer, Cousins met with Mayor Sandy Stimpson to talk about becoming more involved in the community. During that visit, he was given a key to the city and had a day named after him.
