The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

One of the Bahamas' most popular and longest running summer basketball camps will celebrate its silver jubilee anniversary this year, and its namesake expects it to be "a special year."

The 25th Annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp is scheduled for June 25 to July 27 at the HD Colburn Gymnatorium at Bahamas Academy, Wulff Road.

"We are always excited when we can host the camp because it takes so many of our people off the street during the summer and gives them something positive to do," camp director Jeff Rodgers said. "One of the main messages we want to pass along to the campers is just to let them know that despite the success and the heights they have reached in the game of basketball, life is bigger than basketball and the campers need to take that approach. The main emphasis is to make sure that the campers understand the importance of developing healthy bodies with a positive outlook on life."

The camp is expected to host several icons of professional basketball highlighted by point guard Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2012 Rookie of the Year.

Other players making an appearance this year include the son of Bahamian icon Mychal Thompson, Klay Thompson, who was the 11th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, fellow Warrior draftee Jeremy Tyler, Dee Brown, assistant coach of the Detroit Pistons, Byron Scott, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues.

In its 25th year, Rodgers said it was important that the players hear from professionals that basketball is but one aspect of life one needs to work on in order to be successful.

"We put a lot of focus in talking and teaching them as much as possible about life off the basketball court. One of the most important things for them to understand, and to teach them about Bahamian society and the challenges they will face off the basketball court with a focus on integrity and character building," he said.

The camp has expanded internationally to Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands and throughout the Family Islands, including Abaco and most recently, Harbour Island, Eleuthera.

He noted that the island is becoming a hotbed of basketball talent. Several players that have been camp participants over the past few years moved on to pursue higher education through the sport, he added.

"Basketball has really taken off in the area. I know there is not a whole lot of things going on in Harbour Island. Kids get excited and very anxious whenever we have an opportunity to come into town. A few of the guys have been able to use basketball to get off to school, so Harbour Island is definitely a place where you can find a lot of talent."

Over the years, the camp has been able to help to develop the skills of so many young players and Rodgers is hoping that they will continue to do so this year.

"When I put the calls out and anyone responds, we go. It's about spreading the game and development of the game of basketball. One of the main messages they wanted to pass along to the campers was just to let them know that despite the success and the heights they have reached in the game of basketball, life is bigger than basketball and the campers need to take that approach," he said.

This year at the camp's traditional fun night, where campers will be able to showcase their skills learnt from the camp, there will be a greater emphasis placed on the father/son dynamic for many of the campers and their parents, competing in several competitions.

Also during that night, the campers will get a chance to compete and the instructors will also display their skills in a fun-filled event to close out the camp.

"To us, this is the most important event in the camp because it gives the kids an opportunity to showcase all the skills they have learned over the past few weeks for their parents, friends and other interested basketball enthusiasts," Rodgers said. "But again, more than anything else, we want to ensure that the campers understand the importance of developing healthy bodies with a positive outlook on life."

Parents, along with the general public, are invited to watch an exhibition game with the trained instructors and the guest NBA stars.

Application forms are available at the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists or available online at www.jeffrodgersbasketballcamp.com

A number of companies are supporting the camp through their sponsorship. They include the Bahamas Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Baha Mar, Bahamas Business Solutions, J S Johnson Insurance, Royal Bank of Canada, Freddie's Barber Shop, Scotiabank, Vitamalt, BTC, ZNS, Colina Imperial, Jewel Party Supplies and Sky Bahamas.