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Highlands Today

Future Of Hoops On Full Display

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Bethany Williams, 13, works with Coach Mike Lee during Sebring Coed Basketball Camp on Tuesday at Sebring High School.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: July 31, 2008

SEBRING - Bethany Williams grew up watching the Los Angeles Lakers and marveling at the showmanship that the players displayed, while also soaking up all she could from the WNBA and legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt.

"I've always watched the games and paid attention to the way they'd move or how hard they'd play," Williams said. "I just know I want to be that good someday, and I'll work as hard as I can to reach that goal."

The desire to win a spot on her girl's basketball team at Hill-Gustat was the initial reasoning behind the 13-year old Williams getting up early to attend the Blue Streak youth basketball camp on Tuesday, but her competitive side could be seen early and often while she darted for the ball during a game of "knockout."

"I love the challenge that the game of basketball provides me," Williams said. "The strategy and ball-handling are my favorite things about the sport, and I came here to work on my shooting and better control from my left-hand dribble."

The five-day co-ed camp is being held at Sebring High School through Friday with Blue Streak basketball coaches Mike Lee and Princeton Harris showering kids with a wealth of basketball knowledge.

Williams was a self-professed "hopeless cause" when it came to sinking lay-ups, but after some one-on-one with Lee, she now has the confidence to make them at will.

"I couldn't believe I finally did one," Williams said. "I pumped my fists and hurried to do another. It just suddenly clicked and I was able to do them."

Lee, along with several members of the Blue Streak boys and girls basketball teams, put the 25 athletes through a number of drills designed to help strengthen their understanding of the fundamentals.

"So many kids come here with bad habits, especially when they're shooting," Lee said. "You see kids shooting with two hands or from the side, and we're here to teach them the proper way to shoot and get them excited about the game of basketball."

With kids as young as five-years-old, the camp has seen its share of highlights in just the first two days, as many of the younger kids are putting the ball through the hoop for the first time.

"It's great to see a child who is struggling and frustrated trying to make a basket and after a day or so of practice with us, they sink it through the net," Lee said. "That sense of accomplishment is one of the perks of coaching."

The camp is not only a teaching tool for the children, but also a scouting session for the coaches to see the up-and-coming athletes and form a relationship at the earliest level that can hopefully grow through high school.

"These kids are the future of basketball in Highlands County," Lee said. "I think camps like these are critical because it not only helps us establish a relationship with the player, but also the parents.

"We're able to monitor their development and hopefully guide them into becoming a solid ball player."

Lee sat in the middle of the group of campers and stressed solid shooting mechanics, after seeing numerous kids reverting back to old habits during shooting drills, and dared them to Google proper shooting mechanics and see for themselves the exercises in the camp are in line with all of the accepted teaching methods.

To break a child of improper shooting form, Lee had the player stand close to the basket and shoot with one hand repeatedly to learn the follow through and then gradually add the other hand until it becomes second nature.

But no matter what the kids learn at the camp, they're told to work on their own if they are wanting to become a good basketball player. Kids are encouraged to take 10 to 15 minutes per day to work on dribbling and shooting to help strengthen their basketball prowess.

Visiting his grandparents in Florida was a blessing in disguise for 11-year old Mike Swain, who is not only getting better at basketball but making a few friends in the process.

The Virginia native has already participated in camps this summer put on by Virginia Commonwealth and the Orlando Magic but said he understands the value of taking in all types of coaching styles to improve his game.

"I've been playing basketball for four years and I just want to get better every day," Swain said. "I love the speed of the game, and it's always fun to play against someone who's your equal on the court."

Swain impressed Lee and the rest of the kids with his shooting talent and ball-handling skills, but the 11-year old wants to walk out of the Blue Streak camp and even better ball handler and passer when he returns to his basketball league in Virginia.

"The Lord has blessed me with talent and skills," Swain said. "And I hope I can use these talents all the way through college."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or at choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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