At an early age, basketball players aren’t taught the
fundamentals of the game anymore.
GILROY –– At an early age, basketball players aren’t taught the fundamentals of the game anymore.
It’s an often-heard complaint from coaches and fans of the sport these days.
“You don’t have to look far … just look at our current national team,” said Gavilan College head men’s basketball coach Chris Shoemaker. “Those guys can do just about anything, but none of them can shoot it very well.
“I think you can probably trace that back to what they were taught at an early age.”
So with that in mind, Shoemaker and his players are going back to the basics at this week’s second annual Gavilan College Hoops Camp, which started Monday and runs through Friday at the Bud Ottmer Memorial Gym.
“These kids watch (ESPN) Sportscenter and all they see are dunks and behind-the-back passes,” Shoemaker said.
“So we’re focusing on the fundamentals … teaching them stance and solid footing, along with passing, dribbling and shooting.”
Every day, the camp is broken into a pair of three-hour sessions. Eleven kids from grades 3-5 compete in the morning, while 25 campers from grades 6-8 take over in the afternoon.
The kids are divided into groups of three to five with each member of the Rams’ basketball team teaching familiar lessons to their respective groups.
“These are the exact same drills we do during the season – just not quite as long,” said sophomore guard Jonathan Morrison.
While instruction sessions are certainly a large part of the camp, the kids also get to compete in 5-on-5 games, along with competitions like the popular shooting contest, “knockout.”
“We’re not running a boot camp here,” Shoemaker said. “The kids learn more if they’re enjoying themselves.”
And by all accounts, they’re doing both.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said 10-year-old Ryan Ramirez, a first-time camper who is attending with his teammate and friend, Niko Fortino.
“The 5-on-5 game is my favorite, because I usually get to play point guard.”
Can Ramirez already see improvement in his game?
“Yeah definitely,” he said, “because I’ve never done any of these drills before.”
Kaylana Mah, 9, and fellow camp newcomer, 10-year-old Michelle Sosa, are two of the 16 girls taking part in the week’s activities.
According to Sosa, who won Monday’s “knockout” competition and even eliminated one of the Gavilan players, the girls are more than holding their own against the boys.
“We’re better,” she said with a big smile.
Even so, Sosa credited the Gavilan players with teaching her improved fundamentals.
“They’re really nice,” she said. “I’ve learned how to dribble better and follow through on my shot better.”
According to Morrison, even he and his teammates have learned a little.
“When you’re teaching something, you’re learning at the same time,” he said. “And these kids have been great to work with.
“They’re hilarious … so hyper. They’re a lot of fun.”
