Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Last week, Bill Self’s basketball camp kicked off with more than 800 campers taking the courts.
Kids ages 8 to 18 of all different skill levels received instruction from KU players and coaches. The 5-day camp let kids get up close to their real-life heroes. During the final full day of the camp, former Jayhawk players returned to play a game against the current players. The campers yelled and hollered for their favorite players and jeered the team that they didn’t want to win. Former player and current administrative assistant Brett Ballard helped serve as master of ceremonies for the event.
“You guys have got to get loud,” Ballard yelled. “Let the players hear it. If they lose there won’t be ice cream at dinner tonight.”
Seniors Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun are experiencing their last Bill Self Basketball Camp while incoming freshman Tyrel Reed is switching from being the camper to the coach. He said growing up attending Roy Williams’ Basketball Camp always left him dreaming about one day playing in Allen Fieldhouse.
“I remember being the kid staring up at the players,” Reed said.
The players and coaches put in several hours each day. A college or high school coach, plus at least one current player, help with drills across the school district to offer instruction to kids at a 1 to 9 coach to camper ratio.
Photo Gallery
Kansas Basketball: Scrimmage 2007
Images from the KU men's basketball scrimmage Wednesday at the Horesji Family Athletic Facility.
Four former Jayhawks, including Aaron Miles, Michael Lee, Nick Bradford and Billy Thomas returned to offer their basketball insight as well as put on a show for the campers. Miles and Thomas will both participate in the NBA’s developmental summer league in hopes of returning to the NBA where both have played partial seasons in the past. Miles will play for the San Antonio Spurs, while Thomas will join the Milwaukee Bucks. Thomas played for the Washington Wizards during the 2005-2006 season and said he wants another shot at the top level.
“I’ve been fortunate with my opportunities,” Thomas said. “I feel good – I think I can get back to that level, but if not teams from Europe have already been calling me.”
For current standout Brandon Rush, hobbling around the gyms with his leg heavily bandaged isn’t the ideal experience of being a coach to the kids. Self said Rush was limited in his activities outside of attending his physical therapy.
Tomorrow, the second and last session of Self’s camp will conclude. Once the session closes, the players will be back in their regular summer routine of conditioning in the morning, followed by weights and pick-up games in the evening. During July, Self and his staff will spend the majority of their time on the recruiting trail.
— Edited by Joe Caponio
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