The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Stingers Basketball Camp moved into its second week yesterday at the DW Davis Gymnasium featuring dozens of young players looking to hone their skills over the summer months in preparation for the fall.

Head coach Stephen Strachan said the strength of the camp lies in the youngest of the group of participants at the camp, open to players aged 5-19.

“The numbers in the senior category were not what we expected at first, but our mini category has been promising and our juniors have been our biggest support so we are encouraged by what’s transpiring in the camp, it’s going to build as the word gets out as it does every year. They are always a very bright spot in the camp and we look forward to having them because that’s the future of basketball in this country right there,” he said.

“In the senior category this year we are trying to attract a lot of players who are going off to college or high school in the United States and also kids in the high school system here who are getting ready for their upcoming seasons locally.” 

Strachan said that with an experienced staff of coaches and trainers, the coach-to-student ratio is one of the major benefits of the camp.

“The numbers are manageable, our camper per instructor ratio works well. Here you will get a lot of reps, you will learn the skills and fundamentals of basketball and you will become a better player. We have coach Curry who is an excellent trainer. To me he is one of the best trainers that we have here in high schools in the Bahamas. We also have collegiate player Dario Dean and and my son, Stephen Strachan Jr, who is the chief instructor here, so we have a good team. We are doing good, I’m encouraged and I think we will have an excellent camp this year,” he said.

“Stephen recently signed with Faulkner University in Alabama, he’s been down there for two weeks as an instructor. They require that all of their freshmen come in and instruct at their summer camp, just to increase their knowledge of the game. He’s born and bred in basketball, he’s an excellent trainer and I wanted him to pass on these fancy drills that he has learned over the years, spending time at high school in the states and now in college. So he has a vast knowledge of basketball so I just wanted him to come and give back at an early age.” 

Since its inception, the Stingers have produced a number of players who have gone on to play at the collegiate level and Strachan said he will continue to search for players with the talent to excel at the sport.

“The Stingers, since we have been in existence, a number of high profile players have come through, the Stingers organisation has produced a number of high profile players that have gone on to university and even the professional ranks, such as J R Cadot, formerly of TCU and now playing professionally in Europe, D’Shon Taylor and Desean Jackson at John Brown University, Tehran Cox of Liberty are just a few of the examples,” Strachan said.

“We have some kids from urban areas at the camp, some kids who are not that privileged but we are here and we open up or camp to them because we want them to know that you can use this sport to improve your situation. What we love to say here at Stingers Camp is that we do not babysit, we work hard here, incredibly hard, and we get results.”