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BELHAVEN, N.C. — There are so many ways you can follow and watch an NBA team.

You can usually find games on ESPN, TNT or NBA TV. There’s also streaming services, YouTube and countless websites to get information.

But nothing beats seeing it in person, especially when it involves Belhaven native Bam Adebayo.

Five boys from Northeast Elementary will get to travel with a chaperone to Miami on Dec. 19-21 to watch the former Northeast Elementary and Northside High star. The Miami Heat center and his teammates will host the Oklahoma City Thunder. It will be the Heat’s first game after taking a break following their game at home this Sunday against Cleveland.

Zakari Woods, 13, Kyren Palmer, 11, Michael Cooper, 12, Jonathan Davis-Spruill, 13, and Z’Ymir Nixon, 14, will be accompanied by Belhaven Mayor Ricky Credle on the three-day event.

“I have never had a desire to go to someplace like Miami or Vegas, for that matter of fact,” said Credle’s wife, Onika, who played a big role in making this trip happen.

“But I think it’s going to be an awesome time for the boys, for these young men, and for Bam, you know, who’s from our area.

“I think it’s just going to be something that they will be able to remember for the rest of their lives. I’m excited for them. Everybody’s excited for them. The whole community is excited for them.”

Onika reached out to Adebayo’s North Carolina foundation, based in Greensboro. She got up with the organization’s director, Marquita McCulley, about Adebayo doing something for Belhaven’s National Night Out in August. However, that wasn’t possible because Adebayo was playing with Team USA in the Summer Olympics in Paris.

So, instead, plans were put into motion for this event. Also, during that time, the town’s Boys and Girls Club was forced to close. In its place, the Credles and others opened up an after-school center.

“(McCulley) reached out to me about the holiday Miami expedition and said that (foundation executive director) Kevin Graves had given my name and number to select five young men who were attending our after-school center to be a part of this holiday expedition,” Onika said. “So, she just reached out and said ‘We would like to take five middle school young men from your center who would be accompanied by a chaperone.’”

The five boys were chosen and their parents were notified of the big news. From there, it was just a matter of containing their excitement while also getting ready for the big trip.

“It’s a blessing because not many kids get to go, so it’s really a blessing because we got chosen,” said Woods.

“Well, me, I wasn’t as excited as I am now the first time they told me, but now I understand more things that’s going to happen and I get to meet him and understand basketball more, so I am very blessed and excited,” Davis-Spruill said.

“I’m excited to go and meet him,” Nixon said. “ I look up to Bam. He came from the town that I’m in, and he just inspired me.”

The trip includes a boat ride when they arrive in Miami, along with other sightseeing opportunities. They will also get to meet and interact with some of Adebayo’s business associates, where they will learn everything from the day-to-day operations to dining and etiquette. After the game, and seeing Adebayo one-on-one, they will get another boat ride before traveling back to Belhaven just in time for Christmas.

“It says a lot about them and his character for even doing this because he didn’t have to,” Onika Credle said. “You know, people get caught up where people make it that they feel like they owe them something.

“He doesn’t owe nobody nothing. But he’s reaching back and coming into the community and giving these young men the opportunity to see that they can be as much as they want to be.”

Mayor Credle was among those who expressed their gratitude at how it all came together. The same can also be said for Thomas Spruill with the Belhaven Recreation Department. It seems everyone realizes the wonderful opportunity this trip will have and the memories it will make.

“Great opportunity for these young men,” Spruill said. “I’ve had the privilege of coaching every one of them in some sport or another over the last, what, 10 years, probably. So they’re very respectable, very good young boys.

“I think it’s going to represent Belhaven very well.”