Hoops Star Remembers Kids Back Home

As basketball star Tanaya Atkinson prepared to fly out of the country, she passed the rock to kids back home in New Haven to ensure they have filled book bags and free fresh hair cuts in time to return to school.

Atkinson, 25, hosted a back to school supplies giveaway Friday morning at the Transformerz Barber Shop on Whalley Avenue in Amity.

Atkinson paid for 32 kids to get a free hair cut at the barbershop Friday and gave them each an additional voucher to go again before school starts. She said she wanted to help kids and parents out with the financial burdens of back to school shopping during a pandemic.

Kids received signed basketballs and photos with Atkinson and picked from dozens of book bags filled with pencils, paper, a ruler, markers, highlighters, and notebooks.

In Friday’s 90-degree weather, Atkinson also provided families with drinks, fresh fruits, and snack bars.

She hopes to make the giveaway an annual event at a variety of licensed barbershops around New Haven in the future.

Atkinson set up shop outside of Transformerz, which allocated four barbers to take kids’ appointments during the giveaway.

Next week Atkinson heads to Spain to play for the international women’s team, Kutxabank Araski, for her fourth year. She was also a guard for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics; she has signed on this year with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

Last year Atkinson hosted basketball trainings for young athletes. ​“You can’t always make it and forget about the people that are back home,” she said.

While at New Haven’s Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, Atkinson played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). She broke records at Career High School and Temple University. She netted 1,890 points and 1,053 rebounds during her Temple career, both second-place all-time records at the school. She also set the Temple records for points in a season (654) and free throws in a season (169). She also earned a bachelor’s degree at Temple in media studies and production.

“I want to use my platform to help people and kids even when they aren’t asking for help,” she said.

Hamden mother, Tina Smith brought her son Vince Milton Jr., 17 to Transformerz for the first time to support Atkinson. Smith ususally bring her son to a barber in Bridgeport but after Friday’s cut with Transformerz barber Jay Newt she said she plans to bring Milton there more often.

Thirteen-year-old Kiara (pictured above) and her guardian Genita Santos stopped by Friday’s event to pick up a signed ball. Kiara, who is going to the 7th grade this year, hopes to become a professional basketball player. ​“People think girls can’t play basketball, but she proves them all wrong. I want to do that too,” Kiara said.

After taking a photo with her top basketball inspiration, Santos and Kiara went and got it printed and brought it back for Atkinson to sign.