From a small town comes a professional athlete — you already know where this is headed.
    One man or woman who comes from a campy community runs into a bunch of money in pro sports. That athlete then gives back to the community in some kind of heartwarming way whether it be buying his-or-her old high school new jerseys or donating to the soup kitchen.
    It’s a story you’ve heard over and over again. They all give you the warm fuzzies, yet it’s been told so many times over and over again it somehow feels impersonal. Maybe it’s because these communities are never the one you’re living in, or you simply can’t put a face or soul to the athlete in question.
    Here in Statesboro, neither of those are issues.
    Justin Houston, arguably the Boro’s most famous son, will be back for the third rendition of his football camp and celebrity basketball game to be held at Statesboro High School this weekend. Houston, a seven-year NFL vet and four-time pro bowler, uses all of his own money and time to give back to the community he still holds near and dear to his heart.
    “First and foremost I do it for God, then I do it for these kids,” Houston said. “When I was growing up here I never had the chance to see or meet NFL players. It’s cool that God has allowed me the opportunity to be the guy that helps these kids.”
    Houston doesn’t short his beloved hometown either when it comes to delivering the goods on a celebrity basketball game. NFL All-Pro’s AJ Green and Demaryius Thomas along with former University of Georgia stars Jarvis Jones and Akeem Dent are just a few of the names folks will get to see in the Statesboro High gym — all accompanied by the thumping, loud music provided by the Indiana Pacers’ DJ Bandcamp.
    Following the game kids of all ages will get a chance to compete in a free throw contest for a chance to win 1000 dollars (entrants over 18) or a brand new pair of Jordan-brand sneakers (entrants under 18). The following day Houston and his NFL buddies will host a camp for kids while a 3-on-3 basketball tournament is subsequently held in the gym for a grand prize of 3000 dollars. 
    All of the prize money, sneakers, and entertainment are paid for exclusively by Houston. While the 101 million dollar contract he signed two years ago probably helps with the costs, Houston doesn’t think twice about writing the checks. All he wants to do is help out the kids in Statesboro because he too was a kid with big dreams making his way in Bulloch County.
    “I want to change a kid's life if I can,” Houston said. “My life’s goal was to never be a big NFL player but my God-given talents have brought me here. Now I can use that to help these kids out and try to tutor them to a better life.”
    Houston’s aptitude for helping kids is never more apparent during the Q&A session he holds at the end of camp. Kids will pepper him with questions ranging from how many cars he can buy to who the favorite quarterback he’s sacked. Even if Houston is uncomfortable with folks propping him up on a pedestal, he answers every question with grace and humility — always quick to give credit to his heavenly father.
    “Anything I do is for God,” Houston said. “I believe God helped change my life so now it’s my turn to help change someone else’s.”
    Keeping his faith in God couldn’t have been easy for a young Houston, who at age 14 had to go back into his burning childhood home to save his two younger siblings from being incinerated in a blaze that would force his entire family of ten people into temporary housing provided by local churches and the Statesboro High School football team.
    Houston didn’t come from affluence either. In a Sports Illustrated article written on Oct. 20, 2015 Houston told writer Greg Bishop the apartment he shared with three other players had “too much space”, as he was used to sharing a two-bedroom house with up to a dozen people at a time.
    But even through having to move 30-minutes outside of Statesboro when his home burnt down or falling to the third round of the NFL draft, Houston just kept praying.
    Safe to say those prayers have paid off.
    “To think I used to be the sorriest guy on that practice field to be where I am now, only God could help me do something like that,” Houston said.
    Through all the trials and tribulations, Houston can be the face and soul of someone Statesboro youngsters can look up to instead of having to imagine it with another athlete in some other town. Quite frankly Statesboro may not know how good they have it with someone like Houston, but don’t tell him that.
    “It’s really humbling to have so many people come out to support this at the school,” Houston said. “I enjoy being in Statesboro and miss seeing all the familiar faces because I don’t get to come back all that often.”
    When Houston comes back to town, he sure does make it count. You can see him and his NFL friends this evening at the Statesboro High School gym starting at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday during the football camp at 8 am.