Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is flirting with a career season on the hardwood this year. Averaging a career high 37.7 minutes played per game, and 5.0RPG VanVleet is poised to have a massive year for the Raps as their primary ball handler.
Yet his impact isn’t limited just to the confines of Scotiabank Arena, as the 27 year old has recently partnered with the University of Toronto to create a new scholarship for Black or Indigenous students.
The scholarship will reportedly cover all 4 years worth of tuition, plus book costs and will be given out to a student focused on management. In addition to the scholarship, the recipient will also receive mentoring from VanVleet throughout their academic journey as well.
In a prepared statement, VanVleet said “This is to create a possibility and light for those who have faced bias, who haven’t had the same chances as others. It’s important to provide opportunities to those who opportunity usually ignores, or works against, or excludes…Academia hasn’t traditionally been an inclusive place for many of us, and so it’s important to make space specifically for people who want to learn, but who are facing barriers that others do not.”
The initiative is one of many Toronto focused projects which FVV has been involved with as he continues to put down roots in the city which recently gave him a 4yr/$85M contract extension. Following the departure of Raptors legend Kyle Lowry, VanVleet has assumed additional leadership roles with a young Raptors squad and is leading by example both on and off the court.
The former Wichita St. standout and his Raptors teammates are next in action Tuesday evening against the Brooklyn Nets.