The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The 26th annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp officially tipped off yesterday, highlighted by guest appearances from the Bahamas’ greatest basketball icon, and his son who is on the rise as one of the top players in the NBA.

According to camp director Jeff Rodgers, Mychal and Klay Thompson gave approximately 300 campers at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium an “experience to remember.” 

Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors were one of the unexpected surprises of the NBA post-season after finishing 47-35 and earning a sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Thompson scored a career high 34 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in a series tying 100-91 win over the San Antonio Spurs before the Warriors eventually lost the series in six games.

“I started out in basketball camps just like this one, so I was at this point just like you guys are right now,” he said. “It’s a long journey and it takes hard work, it takes discipline, it takes a strong support system of friends and family to help with everything along the way, especially your decision-making.”

In his second season, Thompson assumed the shooting guard role full time with the departure of Monta Ellis and produced career highs in several categories. He appeared in and started all 82 games and averaged 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35.8 minutes per game after a rookie season where he averaged 12.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 66 games with 29 starts and was selected to the All-Rookie First Team.

Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has made waves by saying that Thompson and Stephen Curry, known by fans as “The Splash Brothers,” formed the best shooting duo in NBA history.

The two combined to make 483 three-pointers this season, the most ever by an NBA duo.

Mychal Thompson became the first Bahamian drafted into the NBA when the Portland Trailblazers made him the top overall selection in the 1977 Draft.

After a storied high school career at Miami Jackson High, he attended the University of Minnesota.

And after eight seasons with the Blazers, Thompson was traded to the Spurs in 1986 and was traded again to the Los Angeles Lakers just a year and-a-half later. He won back-to-back titles with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988.

Bernadette Christie, wife of Prime Minister Perry Christie, gave the keynote address at the opening, telling the campers that the experience of the elder Thompson, who’s journey began in the Bahamas, should be one they look to for inspiration.

“I felt touched hearing the story of Mychal and his journey as a young Bahamian man from this small island nation to reach the top of the basketball world. For young students it’s a testament to discipline and following the instructions of people that came before you,” she said. “It does not have to be basketball, it can be in all aspects of life, in school, and later on in the workplace, these same principles will make you a success.”

Mrs Christie hit a jumpshot to declare the camp officially open, much to the delight of the campers on hand.

The Thompsons participated in a question and answer session with the campers and also signed autographs for much of the morning.

“The kids were excited and surprised about the visit. For our veteran campers who are accustomed to having the NBA stars come down during the last week of the camp, leading into fun night, it was certainly a pleasant surprise for them,” Rodgers said.

“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.”

The camp runs through July 26.

After more than two decades, the camp continues to improve and looks to expand its reach this year further than it has in any previous edition.

This year it 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.

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

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

Rodgers said he encourages parents in those areas to have their children participate in the camp, which is free of charge and runs 9am to 1pm.