Though Eian Elmer may no longer be shooting hoops around Greater Cincinnati, he came back to Northern Kentucky to support his hometown community. The former Miami University and Taft High School basketball star hosted the Back-to-School Lace-Up Community event at the Newport Dick's Sporting Goods. He provided 25 youth from the Chase & Cole Fischer Boys & Girls Club with $200 gift cards to pick out new shoes and backpacks for the upcoming school year.
Elmer, a Covington, Kentucky, native, had deep personal connections to the Boys & Girls Club. He attended the club in his youth and his retired basketball jersey now hangs in the club's gymnasium. "I just want to be a role model in the community, doing something for the kids that I was never able to have, as someone who was in their shoes," Elmer said. Students took a bus from the Boys & Girls Club to Dick's Sporting Goods at 10 a.m. to shop for back-to-school essentials like shoes, backpacks and more. Guided by club staff and Dick's employees, the kids picked out their own items. Seeing the students' excitement and helping pick out gear was a special moment for Elmer.
"It was a full-circle moment," Elmer said. "I've been to that club before, and (had a similar experience) with A.J. Green. Me being in that role, helping them as much as I can, is just something that fulfills me." Elmer was a star player for the Miami RedHawks' undefeated regular season and NCAA Tournament appearance last season. He averaged 12.7 points per game on 42% 3-point shooting as the RedHawks won their first March Madness game since Wally Szczerbiak led the team in 1999. Prior to his three seasons for the RedHawks, Elmer was a standout player for Taft High School in Cincinnati. He led the Senators to the OHSAA Division III state championship in 2022. This offseason, Elmer transferred to the University of Wisconsin. Joining him at the community event was new Badgers teammate Victory Oneutu, whom Elmer has quickly befriended during summer workouts. The event also provided Boys & Girls Club members with free Wisconsin Badgers t-shirts.
When asked about the transition to life in Wisconsin, Elmer had only positive things to say. "It's going great. I have good teammates, a great coaching staff, and the community in Madison is great," Elmer said. "Hopefully in the future I'll be able to do something like this for their community as well." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Miami, Taft star Eian Elmer gives back to Boys & Girls Club