The Tribune

THE 20th edition of Basketball Smiles is currently underway at Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium.

The summer basketball tournament got started on Monday and will wrap up on Friday.

The girls’ segment of the camp is hosted 9am to 1pm with the boys’ segment immediately following from 1pm to 4pm.

The programme was first introduced in 1999 by Sam Nichols, a Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach from McMurray University, and his wife Sandy.

The Nichols developed a working relationship with local women’s basketball icon Patricia ‘Pattie’ Johnson, of the HO Nash Junior High School Lions.

Basketball Smiles began with about 80 campers and continues to attract an average of 300 campers each year, who are taught by 10-14 coaches from the United States.

At the end of the camp, each camper is presented with a t-shirt, shorts, socks and basketball.

Individual trophies are also presented to campers for outstanding effort and citizenship during the camp.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff