North Philadelphia native Dawn Staley recently returned to her North Philly roots when she was honored at her alma mater, Dobbins High School, writes Mike DeNardo for KYW Newsradio.

She is a Class of 1988 alumna.

Staley is coming off leading the South Carolina women’s basketball team to a 38-0 record and her third NCAA championship in the last eight years.

Beyond that, she has won an Olympic gold medal as a player and coach, and finds herself in both the Women’s and Naismith Basketball Halls of Fame.

She often credits her roots in North Philly and at Dobbins for her success, and always enjoys the love she receives when returning to the city.

“Anytime I can come back, it always seems that I just feel the love,” Staley said.

Current students like Dobbins basketball team’s senior guard, Zachary Campbell, said Staley serves as an inspiration.

“Someone to look up to, because she came from the North Philly streets just like we did. So seeing her make it and be successful at this level motivates us to do it too,” Campbell said. “It makes us feel good, because some people who make it, they forget about everybody. And she didn’t forget about us.”

Read more about Dawn Staley and her wide-ranging impact on the sport of basketball in KYW Newsradio.

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