VALPARAISO | Valparaiso University basketball players Eric Buggs, Logan Jones and DeAndre Haskins were swarmed for autographs Friday afternoon despite not yet having scored a point for the team.

Central Elementary School students circled the three after a clinic to inaugurate the school's new adjustable-height, glass-backed basketball hoop.

The event was part of the school's yearlong focus on developing healthy habits, Principal Elizabeth Krutz said.

The players demonstrated a number of drills and dunks to the delight of the students.

VU coach Homer Drew moderated the event, encouraging teamwork, good nutrition and hard work on academics.

Drew said he selected freshmen for the visit to start them on their way to becoming good leaders. "This is their indoctrination," Drew said with a laugh.

Students asked the players how they got so good.

Jones said that while everybody else was on their PlayStation video consoles, he was outside working on his game.

The students also asked the freshmen who their favorite players were, eliciting the names Chris Paul, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. They then asked the same question of Drew, who replied, "I think my favorite player was ... Bryce Drew."

Fifth-grader Morgan Fifield outlasted several classmates in a game of knock-out and won a brown and yellow VU basketball. She attributed her skill to lots of practice and play with friends.

Last year's class of Central fifth-graders worked on the Indiana Department of Education's Serve and Learn grant that paid for the $1,500 hoop, Krutz said.