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Published August 23, 2024 at 1:45PM

Washington Wizards Forward Anthony Gill at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Students at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School , Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Washinton Wizards mascot G-Wiz signs a shirt at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School in Alexandria, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt with G-Wiz, the Washington Wizards mascot, at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A student at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School gets his face painted, Aug. 23 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Washington Wizards Forward Anthony Gill and his wife, Jenna, at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Two hundred backpacks were given by the Washington Wizards to students at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School in ALexandria’s West ENd, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James CUllum)

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill handed out 200 stuffed backpacks to fourth and fifth graders at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School in Alexandria’s West End this afternoon.

The event is one of many from team owner Monumental Sports and Entertainment was part of a regional giveaway at schools in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In Alexandria, the students at Tucker also received a free book from MahoganyBooks, a Wizards t-shirt, and an autographed card.

Gill said that he got to where he was by doing well in school.

“Listen to your teachers,”  said Gill, accompanied by his wife, Jenna. “Respect them. Always be willing to learn something new and be a good… At the end of the school year, we’re gonna see how great you guys were. Maybe Jen and I’ll come back at the end of the school year and see how the school year ended.”

Wizards guard Jordan Poole also handed out backpacks and books at Stanton Elementary School in southwest D.C., guard Bub Harrington handed out backpacks at a basketball camp in Baltimore.







Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His reportage includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He has also covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.