Compton student wins $40,000 for college from the free throw line



Students, teachers, band members and cheerleaders packed the Compton High School gymnasium this afternoon. But this was no ordinary pep rally.

Out of the 80 Compton High School seniors with a 3.0 or better GPA, eight were selected to compete in a free throw-shooting contest for a chance to win $40,000 in college scholarships.

Screenwriter Court Crandall (“Old School”) set up the contest as a part of a documentary called “Free Throw” about the lives of Compton students. The winner of the free throw shoot-out would win $40,000 for college and the other participants would receive $1,000 scholarships.

When Allan Guei sunk the winning basket in the final round of the contest, his classmates surrounded him, jumping up and down and enveloping him in a giant hug.

But the excitement didn’t end there. After Guei was presented his check, Jesse Jones, the principal of Compton High School, announced that the other seven seniors would receive one-year scholarships to state universities.

The crowd erupted into cheers and the students continued to hug each other, wide-eyed and overcome with emotion.

“This is my 30th year as principal,” Jones said. “Nothing like this has ever happened. I’ve had some gifts and blessings, but not where they involved the entire student body…whether they won or not, they were here, they cheered, and it gave them inspiration that ‘next time, I can do this.’”

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