The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JEFF Rodgers is excited. His month-long annual summer basketball camp is fast approaching, but this year Rodgers is even more delighted to feature some special guests during the daily sessions 9am to noon Monday to Friday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, starting on June 28.

“The guest list includes Byron Scott along with his point guard Jordan Clarkson from the Los Angeles Lakers and Eric Gordon from the New Orleans Hornets,” Rodgers said. “But we are looking forward to players from the championship Golden State Warriors coming as well. We will welcome another of Bahamian descent in Klay Thompson, Dramon Green, MVP Andre Iguodala.”

Under the patronage of Obie Wilchcombe, the minister of tourism and Dr Daniel Johnson, minister of youth, sports and culture, Rodgers said a welcome reception is set to be held at the Melia Cable Beach resort for the visiting stars on Wednesday, July 22.

While here, the stars will also join in a ceremony to honour Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson who watched as his son followed in his footsteps by winning the NBA title with the Warriors. Thompson, the first round pick of the Portland Trailblazers in the 1978 draft, was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he went on to win consecutive crowns with the “Showtime” in 1987 and 1988 before retiring in 1991.

Thompson, now a colour radio commentator for the Lakers, will have the street from Thompson Boulevard to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium named after him. Minister Wilchcombe made the official announcement in the House of Assembly last week.

“The group of celebrities will be arriving here on Tuesday, July 21 and we will have a reception for the players on that Wednesday night, but they will be at the camp that morning to interact with the children,” Rodgers said. “They will also participate in the Celebrity Camp on Thursday night and they play golf on Friday before they leave on Saturday and Sunday.”

On the completion of his camp here, Rodgers will be returning to Georgetown, Exuma where he will put on his third annual camp July 27 and is expected to feature Scott and Clarkson as the special guests. “We are really looking forward to an exciting camp this year,” Rodgers said.