Hoops camp to teach kids fundamentals and skills of game
Young basketball players had a chance to showcase their skills during recent lunch break tournaments held at Marguerite Maze and Rancho San Justo middle schools.
The tournaments were part of a promotion at local schools for the first Basketball Jones Hoops Camp in Hollister in August.
Gene Cotter, who moved to Aromas from Humbalt about two years ago, has been putting on the Northern California camps all since 1996. Cotter, along with his brothers, will be hosting their 100th week-long camp this year.
“We just try to pump up basketball in an environment kids haven’t seen before to show the kids we are serious,” Cotter said. “If we give them something different, it may entice them to sign up for camp.”
San Benito basketball coach David Kaplansky and Cotter put on camps during their college days. But back then, their primary goal was to play ball.
They first met at a Stanford basketball camp. During the day, they taught the camps and then they would train with some of the athletes at the school.
“He has a good basketball knowledge and experience and knows how to teach the skills needed,” Kaplansky said.
The camp offers training for two age groups – beginners (7-9) and advanced (10-15).
“For the younger group, it is just about developing a love for the game,” Cotter said. “The older group is pretty intense because they already have a lot of the skills.”
Cotter said he hopes to have 96 kids for the camp. There will be camps in 13 cities throughout northern California this year.
Details: Call 800-348-3803 or go to www.basketballjonescamp.com.
