Vallely said the fund-raiser forms a link between the team and community. "It brings in the community and increases awareness. Teams meet the community, and the community can meet the basketball stars. The band plays, cheerleaders dance, and it creates an environment where everybody wins," he said. "I talked to [SJU Men's Basketball Coach] Steve Lavin 13 months ago. He e-mailed me back within minutes and said 'I'm in.' He introduced me to [Director of Athletic Communications] Mark Fratto and he surrounded me with talent at St. John's for its first year of this."
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