The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A WEEK into its 25th anniversary event and the Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp is shaping up to be "one of the best editions thus far" and a "very special year," according to camp director Jeff Rodgers.

The camp is being held at the HD Colburn Gymnatorium at Bahamas Academy, Wulff Road, and is slated to run until July 27.

"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," 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."

Scores of young males and females as young as five-year-old beginners all the way up to high school seniors, looking to improve as they prepare for the collegiate ranks, fill the BA Campus on a daily basis for the duration of the event.

Keeping with its theme of developing a well- rounded student athlete, 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.

One of the highlights of the camp year after year for campers and fans alike is its ability to attract starpower.

The 25th edition will be headlined 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.

Rodgers' camp has expanded internationally in recent years. They have travelled to Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands.

Throughout the Family Islands, the camp has visited Abaco and most recently, Harbour Island, Eleuthera.

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.

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."

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, Vita Malt, BTC, ZNS, Colina Imperial, Jewel Party Supplies and Sky Bahamas.