Carmelo Anthony honored his Puerto Rican roots this past Sunday by erecting a new outdoor basketball court for the country’s youth through his charity, The Carmelo Anthony Foundation.

Youngsters at the Lomas housing project in this eastern Puerto Rican city, starting Monday, can enjoy playing on the new basketball court.

This is the second time the Carmelo Anthony Foundation has helped reconstruct a sports center on the Caribbean island. The first time was in July 2010 in the San Juan district of La Perla.

The New York Knicks all-star forward’s father, who passed away when Carmelo was only a small child, was born the American territory, and Carmelo has kept his father’s legacy alive.

Puerto Rico’s children are not immune to the obesity epidemic on the mainland. Studies have shown that 26% of Puerto Rican youth suffer from obesity, which makes Carmelo Anthony’s revitalization of basketball courts a needed action.

It’s great to see Carmelo is helping raise the fitness levels of his ethnic hometown’s children.