The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NOW into its sixth year, one of the country’s only summer basketball camps dedicated solely to girls continues to grow in popularity and stature.

The 2015 ‘Ballin By Da Beach’ Girls Basketball Camp starts today at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The camp is open to girls aged 5-18 and runs from 9am to 3pm daily until June 26.

Head coach Charisse Mapp, formerly of the North Carolina State University and Salisbury, will facilitate the camp along with camp director Jurelle Nairn, collegiate players and a number of local coaches.

In a previous interview with the Tribune, Nairn outlined her inspiration behind the formation of the camp and her plans for its development moving forward.

“Charisse Mapp has really embraced the project as her own over the last few years. She is well connected so you never know, that can have an impact for one of the camp participants if they can come out and show what they can do,” she said. “This movement was birthed from my passion to serve and inspire change in the Bahamas through basketball. Since I started playing basketball, God has just graced me with His favour over and over again. I can truly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for basketball. It has opened doors that would have never been opened had I not played for the right people, in the right place, at the right time.”

Fifteen of the camp’s former participants have received scholarships to US high schools and colleges. “The numbers continue to increase every year and it continues to take me by surprise. We will have some of our former senior campers back who are now playing collegiately. I like to call them the ‘fruits of our labour’ so that will be exciting for many of the younger campers,” Nairn said. “The numbers continue to increase every year and it continues to take me by surprise. This is a week-long programme and as much good as it does, this programme can only put a dent in what needs to be done, but we are looking forward to its continued growth.”

Interested persons can register at www.ballinbydabeach.com, with further information via Twitter - @Ballinbydabeach, Facebook - www.facebook.com/ballinbydabeach or E-mail - ballinbydabeach@gmail.com