Samaritan Announces a Partnership
with NBA Star James Jones to Host Basketball Camps and Teach Life Skills To Youth in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2003--Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCBB:SPHC) and Samaritan
Research Labs, Georgetown University, announced today James Jones is partnering with Samaritan and Samaritan Innovative Science
Foundation to further develop plans to provide basketball camps, introduce community residents to personal development opportunities
(life skills training, educational, vocational, and social skills), facilitate partnerships that stimulate and strengthen
the community, and facilitate Samaritan’s plans to provide its novel, safe, and effective Phase II/III HIV drug free
to all children and at cost to adults with HIV in underserved regions and underdeveloped countries.
James “Jimmy” Jones, a 6'4'' guard from Grambling
State, played 7 years in the ABA followed by three seasons with the Washington Bullets of the NBA. Jones was one of the ABA’s
first real prizes from the college ranks being drafted as the No. 2 choice of the NBA Baltimore Bullets behind Earl “the
Pearl” Monroe, but electing instead to become the first player drafted and signed by the New Orleans Buccaneers. Jones
finished his career as one of the ABA's 30 all time best and remains among all-time ABA leaders in nearly every category.
Career Highlights: Member of ABA All-Rookie Team in 1967-68; 2nd man in ABA history
to score over 2,000 points in one season; Led ABA in Free Throw Percentage in 1973-74; 6-Time ABA All-Star; 3-Time Member
of ABA All-Pro Team Jones elected to sign with New Orleans as opposed to the Baltimore Bullets
because he figured the Bullets top pick, Earl Monroe, would get more playing opportunities. . . . "I wanted to build the team
around big, high-scoring guards," Bucs/Pros coach McCarthy comments," So I made it clear to Jimmy that he was going to be
the man to run our offense." . . . "Bullets Coach Gene Shue seemed higher on Jones in later years than he was on Monroe
and tried to get Jones to reconsider and switch leagues."
. . . Jones did switch teams after 1970-71 season, finding a contract loophole
with mismanaged Memphis team, and signed a lucrative multi-year contract with the Utah Stars . . Jimmy Jones was a great one-on-one player with excellent speed and quickness and a fine shot. He will always
indelibly be known as one of the fine assist men in all of pro ball. James Jones is a teacher in Las Vegas. He met George Weaver
of Samaritan Foundation who told him about the company. James got involved with Samaritan Foundation because he wanted to help the youth. James believes
that student athletes can and should be better in school, because it is easier to achieve success in school and much more
difficult to succeed in sports. James also believes that with out a strong firm
foundation a building cannot stand in life. He went on to say that this camp is designed to build character, better living skills, hope for success and ways to help
students excel in school and in sports. James had two camps in 2003 in the spring
and summer. Those camps were a success and an asset to the community. His mission is to continue to help the youth be better student athletes. He hopes to have these camps annually
or year round.
His experience in the NBA coupled with his desire to help youth, makes the educational basketball
camp he's hosting as well as the Cleamons Camp in which he's assisting, invaluable vehicles through which
to make an impact. His life in the NBA and ABA has taught him that fame and fortune are fleeting, but God's work
will endure and God must be at the center of all things.
