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<\/p>\nBROOKLYN (WABC) — At Bishop Loughlin High School in Clinton Hill, players are feeling particularly inspired.<\/p>\n
One of their own, Julian Champagnie, is playing in the NBA Championship.<\/p>\n
Champagnie graduated from Loughlin in 2019 and now plays for the San Antonio Spurs.<\/p>\n
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“I take inspiration. He was from New York like the rest of us, we always want like make it out, you know, just like anybody can do it hard work and you stay positive,” student Luke Jackson said.<\/p>\n
Coach Edwin Gonzalez didn’t just coach Champagnie; he also coached his twin, Justin.<\/p>\n
They both now play in the NBA.<\/p>\n
Gonzalez said they had talent and a tremendous work ethic.<\/p>\n
“When you get them as eighth graders and ninth graders and you see them develop to what they become. It’s just gratifying,” Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
“I think one of the strengths of our school is where whenever our current students see an alum come back and see them successful, whether it’s basketball or in law or in medicine, it just says, I can do it. I can do it. If they can do it, I can do it,” Edward Bolan, Principal of Bishop Loughlin Memorial, said.<\/p>\n
After the Spurs’ last game against OKC, Julian spoke about coming home to play at the Garden.<\/p>\n
“Being able to go back there and compete for the championship, there’s no better feeling, no better feeling,” Champagnie said.<\/p>\n
Thanks to some incredible 3-point shooting, he helped the Spurs get this far.<\/p>\n
“It’s like a connection. It’s like we’re sharing the same court he played on. It’s like it’s crazy to see that one person could become like he started off just like any of us did, and I was in the NBA playing in the final. So it’s really amazing to see,” student Devon Vincent said.<\/p>\n
Watch game 1 of the NBA Finals on ABC 7 on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News<\/p>\n