The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AFTER more than two decades, the Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp continues to improve and looks to expand its reach this year further than it has in any previous edition.

One of the country’s longest standing summer camps will partner with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for 2013 to have an impact on a wider cross-section of young players.

The ministry seeks to streamline its summer youth programme by targeting specific groups to oversee the various sporting disciplines offered and with basketball they brought the Rodgers camp on board as a partner to facilitate the development of satellite camp sites in urban areas.

The 26th Annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp is scheduled for July 1-26 at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.

In addition to the main venue at the Kendal Isaacs Gym, the camp will conduct five satellite camps running concurrently.

Selected areas include basketball parks at Pinewood, Kemp Road, Mason’s Addition, Christie Park and Bacardi Road (Carmichael).

“I am pleased to announce that the Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp has forged a partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in leading the 26th annual edition of the camp, held throughout Nassau and the Family Islands,” Jeff Rodgers said.

“As CEO of the camp, I wish to thank the (Minister of Sports) Dr Daniel Johnson for his interest and endorsement of this initiative and what I hope is the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Ministry consultant Oria Wood will spearhead the project from the government’s side.

Rodgers said his group will conduct a series of clinics with ministry staff to adequately prepare camp instructors at the various sites. He added that parents should expect the standard of the Jeff Rodgers brand to be prevalent at all satellite camp sites. They will be strategically located to ensure maximum attendance and utilisation by community youth, both boys and girls between six to 18 years of age.“

Another new wrinkle in this year’s camp will be the visit of NBA players early in the event, rather than the traditional final week which culminates in the “Fun Night” exhibition.

The camp is expected to host several icons of professional basketball.

Leading the way will be point guard Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Other players making an appearance this year include Klay Thompson, the son of Bahamian sports icon Mychal Thompson and the 11th pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors.

Mychal Thompson will also make an appearance alongside camp stalwarts Byron Scott and Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues.

Rodgers said a new feature of this year’s camp will be the staggered schedule of the visiting NBA icons.

This year, however, Klay Thompson, Irving and others will appear during the opening day of the camp.

“It works out well for us this way because when I have one group leave, another group will be coming in, and they all bring something different to the table,” said camp director Jeff Rodgers,

“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. 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. We put a lot of focus on talking to 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 is Bahamian society and the challenges they will face off the basketball court with a focus on integrity and character building.”

Applications can be collected from the Seventh Day Adventists Office located on the Tonique Williams Darling Highway or downloaded from the camp’s website www.jeffrodgersbasketballcamp.org.

According to Rodgers, “the Jeff Rodgers basketball camp focuses on physical, spiritual and mental development. Specifically, camp participants are taught and introduced to the virtues of having a positive self image and healthy conflict resolution skills. You can look for that to continue at these camps. These camps have been planned and will be fully co-ordinated under the Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp, with the assistance of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.”

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

Over the years, the camp has been able to help to develop the skills of many young players and Rodgers is hoping they will continue with the tradition at this year’s event. “When I put the calls out and anyone responds, we go. It’s about spreading the game and development of the game of basketball,” Rodgers said.