The Tribune

IN conjunction with the 13th Annual Basketball Smiles Basketball Camp, a free coaching clinic will be offered to all Bahamian basketball coaches.

The 'Basketball Smiles Basketball Clinic' is expected to feature Texas coach Sam Nichols and the Basketball Smiles staff. The clinic is scheduled for 9am to noon June 21 at CI Gibson High School Gym.

Nichols is the winningest basketball coach in McMurry University history with over 600 career wins and a 70 per cent career winning percentage.

During his 32-year career, Nichols developed six All-American players and set over 25 school records at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

His McMurry University team was ranked No.1 in the nation for much of the 2006 season before eventually losing in the "Sweet 16."

During his career, Nichols' teams won or shared many state and conference championships.

Coach Nichols is the founder and president of Basketball Smiles and has been providing free basketball camps in the Bahamas for 13 years.

He has written two books on basketball and has lectured in Russia and Africa.

Recognised several times as coach of the year, Nichols continues to be much in demand at basketball clinics across the US.

"I've been coming to the Bahamas for 13 years now and I really enjoy holding these clinics each summer. This year's clinic will be helpful for all basketball coaches, regardless of the age level they coach, or whether they coach boys or girls.

"It will be a fast-paced clinic with on-court demonstrations and we're happy to provide this clinic to all coaches, free of charge. We will specialise in effective basketball concepts that are easy to understand and put into practice."

Sample topics that will be covered are offensive sets, both zone and man-to-man, drills that maximise practice time, pressure defense and individual player development drills," he said.

For more information, contact coach Patty Johnson at HO Nash Junior High (242-323-6489).