Advertisement

Enes Kanter planning to open charter school in Oklahoma City

The former Thunder big man is planning to open a charter school in the Oklahoma City area in the coming years.
The former Thunder big man is planning to open a charter school in the Oklahoma City area in the coming years. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Enes Kanter may no longer live in Oklahoma City, but the Boston Celtics big man is attempting to leave a lasting impact on the Sooner State.

Kanter is planning to open a charter school, the “Enes Kanter School for Exceptional Learning,” in the Oklahoma City area, according to The Oklahoman. He and a team of “civic-minded individuals” will officially submit their application to the school district on Tuesday, where it can then go before the school board for a vote.

“Despite playing for other teams, I continue to return to Oklahoma City to host my annual basketball summer camps and to support programs that serve the OKC children,” Kanter wrote in a letter to the school district, via The Oklahoman. “Through my foundation, my philanthropic activities extend to all of the cities where I have played for: Utah, Portland, New York, and Boston.”

Kanter said he has not yet selected a location for the school, but that they will hopefully open it where “the need is high.” It will also be designed for “under-served minority and immigrant students,” according to the Associated Press.

According to The Oklahoman, the school will offer a curriculum focused on reading, writing, math and science while embedding “rich sports and arts activities in students’ daily schedule.”

He would be at least the second current NBA player to open a charter school, joining LeBron James — who opened his “I Promise School” in Akron Ohio in 2018.

Kanter played for the Thunder for more than two seasons from 2015-17, averaging 14.2 points and eight rebounds before he was traded to the New York Knicks. He’s averaged 8.7 points and 8.2 rebounds off the bench for the Celtics this season, his ninth in the league.

More from Yahoo Sports: