Ciré Forman’s basketball jersey overlooks the Camden Catholic High School gymnasium and the great traditions that play out on the hardwood floor below. On Dec. 8, a new tradition will take place there in honor of Forman’s memory.
A winter basketball clinic will be held for female athletes grades 2-8 at Camden Catholic, teaching young players fundamental skills and teamwork traits that Forman displayed as both a player and a freshman coach at Camden Catholic before her death in 2022 as the passenger in a single-car accident in Gloucester County. She was only 21.
“She was the consummate teammate and example for our girls,” said Camden Catholic girls basketball coach Christine Matera. “She was an incredibly selfless person and was someone that everyone wanted to be around. Obviously, her loss was huge for our program and our entire school community.”
All proceeds of the basketball clinic will be split evenly between the Ciré Forman Memorial Scholarship, which supports students at Camden Catholic, and the Ciré A. Forman All 4 Sports Foundation, honoring Forman’s legacy by promoting access to sports for children with cognitive and physical disabilities.
“The premise of the foundation is to create more accessibility to sports, particularly to populations that are either special needs or that don’t have the financial backing to engage in sports,” Matera said.
The clinic, which runs from 12:30 to 3 p.m., costs $25. The event is staffed by Matera and the Camden Catholic girls coaching staff. Players are volunteering their time to work with the young athletes.
It’s a total team effort by the Irish as they gear up for the 2024-25 season. “It will be a service project for them as well as obviously a way to continue Ciré’s legacy,” Matera said.
As a player, Forman was named co-captain during her senior year, which was also Matera’s first year as varsity head coach. The Irish went 15-12 and won a share of their conference championship that year.
Following graduation, Forman attended Rowan College at Burlington County on an athletic scholarship for basketball and returned to Camden Catholic to coach the freshman girls’ team. She was an instant success as a coach, guiding the Irish freshman to a 14-0 record.
Following Forman’s death, her family started the Ciré A Forman All 4 Sports Foundation to help young athletes have better opportunities to play non-traditional sports. At the same time, Camden Catholic started a scholarship in Forman’s honor. The school also retired her jersey in January 2023.
The winter basketball clinic is the next step in honoring their former player, coach and friend.
To sign up for the basketball clinic, visit tinyurl.com/ycbr2p6a.
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