That was before the Charlotte Bobcats and Charlotte Sting went to work, transforming the space into a one-of-kind reading corner.

The room began to evolve as pictures of the Bobcats and Sting players were hung on the walls, carpet was put down and painted shelves were brought in. The shelves were then filled with books and the finishing touches -- basketball-shaped beanbags, Bobcats rugs and even an orange locker were brought in to make the room complete.

The space became a place that encouraged students to come in, grab a book and spend some quiet time reading.

With the corner completed, Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor, Sting guard Helen Darling, Sting Head Coach Muggsy Bogues, Bobcats sideline reporter Stephanie Ready and Bobcats mascot Rufus Lynx dropped by the school on Thursday, January 26 to help reveal the newest addition to the students. They also helped christen the corner by hosting a Read To Achieve Time-out presented by Discovery Place for all the third graders in the school.

The excitement was evident in the kids’ eyes as Bogues and Ready opened the event by talking to them about the Bobcats and Sting, as well as basketball in general.

The focus then shifted to reason why they were there -- to share the importance of reading with the kids. Together the duo spoke about how important reading was in helping them achieve success.

“The Bobcats and Sting know how important reading is,” Bogues told the students. “We want to provide you with all the things you need to help you be successful.”

The reading corner was unveiled to a chorus of ooh’s and ahh’s, and the players themselves were equally impressed with the new addition.

“I thought the reading center was beautiful,” said Darling. “The whole setup was nice -- the locker, the bookshelves, the pictures and the scoreboard. I thought it was truly amazing.”

Following the unveiling, Okafor and Darling sat down and shared with the kids the story Salt in his Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream. The book teaches important lessons about hard work, patience and believing in yourself as it chronicles some of the struggles Jordan went through as a young player in the game.

The messages in the book, as well as the overarching theme of reading and education, were lessons that Okafor hoped would remain with the kids long after the players left the school.

“We just want to try to make an impression on these kids while they are still young and soaking up everything,” he said. “We just want to try to get them to understand the importance of reading and learning and hope they grow up with that. When I was younger, whenever athletes and even just the mascot, like Rufus, showed up, I would get excited and whatever they said, I would listen to. I’m in that position where I can have an impression on these youngsters and hopefully just have a positive influence on them.”

Following the reading time-out, Okafor, Darling and Bogues took the time to go from room to room to give a word of encouragement to all the students.

“It’s just an exciting opportunity for the children and a great motivator for them to see professionals actually come in their classroom and give them a few words of encouragement,” said Reid Park Principal Janice Lewis. “Those few words of encouragement though will go a long, long way.”

She also believes that the reading corner will motivate the students to succeed.

“It’s a great stimulus for the children,” she remarked. “When they walk in and see all the paraphernalia and remember what was said to them about reading, it will encourage them to read even more.”

Providing this type of encouragement to kids is exactly why Bogues enjoys getting out in the community.

“It’s always important to uplift the youth because they are our future as we always say,” he said. “You want to help them reach their dreams and help put them on the course to do that. You have to help them understand that they have to visualize the dream and then put the plan into action.”