NBA Players Coming To The Valley !!!!!!

NBA Fan · Cholo Nako Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 26

My son did not say anything about the clippers scouts being there.... I will have to ask him.... He has learned alot and has had a good time. It was worth it.

elchrist · Posted: 13 Aug 2008 02:28 PM Post subject:

NBA Fan · Cholo Nako Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 26

My Boy Got Interviewed, this was in the paper today!!!

Former pros teach at camp
By JAMES ARENS, Sports Writer

Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:16 PM PDT

Sometimes what teachers say and what the students do are two different things.

But when the instructor and pupil are on the same page, a lot of learning is bound to happen.

At Imperial Valley College this past week, youths of the Valley got to read from that basketball book and learn from the authors who wrote it, figuratively speaking.

“I liked the whole week because it was a lot of fun,” 13-year-old Tanner Rollins of Calipatria said of the IVC basketball camp. “They didn’t yell at us or push us too hard. But I think they pushed us just enough so we all got better.”

The “they” Rollins is speaking of are former NBA journeymen Chris Morris, Chris Gatling, Greg Foster and the IVC coaching staff and college players, who all spent the week teaching, pushing and constructively instructing 60-plus youths.

“The coaches all helped out a lot,” said Meriah Overton, a 12-year-old from Brawley. “They would pull you aside and really take the time to teach you the right way to do the drill. And it’s cool because you get to learn from NBA players and college players.”

Rollins came into the camp with some “game,” as the coaches said. Although before Monday, he wasn’t a shooter. When he left Thursday, well, that’s a different story.

“My shot drastically changed,” said the eighth-grader at Bill E. Young Jr. Middle School. “They took me aside, told me to let the ball go off the fingertips and my shot is way better now.

“I’m also more confident in my shot much more than I was before I came to the camp.”

When players go through such a transformation, coaches notice and it also gives the “professors” a sense of pride in their students.

“We are here to teach these kids and these camps are a teaching thing for us,” said the over 10-year NBA veteran Chris Morris. “We want to teach the kids that they should never use the word ‘can’t.’

“It makes us as coaches feel good to know our teaching is helping the kids because we want to teach these kids.”

Overton also grew as a hooper over the week.

“I really think we were being taught the right way to do things,” she said. “I really learned how to pay attention more on the court and my left-hand dribbling is a whole lot better.”

This was the first of two sessions at IVC where the Arabs and the former pro players team up to provide the best-possible camp the Valley has ever had.

“We also wanted them to be more disciplined and have a little more fun with the game. Just keep pushing them to get better,” said former NBA veteran Chris Gatling. “And I think that all the kids have gotten better because of the hands-on teaching we’re able to give.”

Room is still available to attend the second session at the cost of $125. The camp is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday and registration will start at 7:30 a.m.

Checks should be payable to the IVC Foundation basketball camp. For more information call the IVC Foundation at 355-6113.

Those interested may visit www.gregfosterbasketball.com for more information about the camp.

elchrist · Posted: 15 Aug 2008 11:44 AM Post subject:

NBA Fan · Cholo Nako Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 26

LOL... I got to talk to Chris Morris & Greg Foster while they were signing autographs after yesterdays camp.... They used to be teammates with Karl Malone in Utah and I asked them about him.... They said they still keep in touch with him and that he lives in Lousiana and owns some trucking companies.... That guy could set viscious picks and then role to the basket better then anyone!!!! I would love to meet that dude!!!!

chuco boy · Posted: 16 Aug 2008 12:38 PM Post subject: Karl Malone

Malone aka mailman faded out in the crunch time. Never could win a ring but he was more famous for his nickname. Morris and Foster were stiffs - The best players were the DVL championship team of Franco, Silva, HIckman, JIminez and Rubio.

verbal · Posted: 21 Aug 2008 10:44 AM Post subject:

I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to...

NBA Fan · Cholo Nako Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 26

My son was not the only one who benefited... check out todays paper

IVC hoops camp ends
By JAMES ARENS, Sports Writer

Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:23 PM PDT

“It was totally worth it,” said 13-year-old Tanner Rollins of Calipatria.

That was the mutual feeling among youths that attended the second session of the Imperial Valley College basketball camp featuring former NBA players, college coaches and players which ended Thursday.

“It’s great for these kids to get out here and relate to these college players,” IVC head basketball Tyson Aye said. “I think it also helped the players who were responsible to teach the kids as well.

It helped build a friendship and I’m sure a lot of these kids will be coming to our games this year,” Aye said.

There was a mixture of former pros like Chris Morris, Chris Gatling and Greg Foster, college coaches and players, all helping to sculpt the games of the Valley’s best young hoopsters.

The second session, with the first being held last week at IVC, had fewer participants but attracted youths from as far as Las Vegas, Mexico and even a few players from the San Diego area.

The smaller numbers were welcomed by the campers because they got to interact more with the coaches and players.

“There was even more hands-on attention this week because there were fewer kids here,” said Rollins, who attended both sessions. “They really helped all of us work on the fundamentals.”

Rollins convinced his mom to fork over another $125 dollars for this week’s camp, a wise investment according to Rollins.

“It’s totally worth the $250 I spent on both camps,” he said with a big smile. “I learned so much from all these players and I can honestly say that I’m so much better now than when I started the camps. These camps were totally worth the money and I thank my mom every day.”

Rollins couldn’t pick which week he preferred over the other because he thought both of them were different.

“Last week was fun with games that worked you hard,” he said, “and this week, I think we learned even more because we got more individual instruction from all the coaches.

“You can’t leave here and not be a better player,” Rollins said.

Improvement isn’t something you can put a real price on and A.J. Dale is living proof.

“I’ve been to other (sports) camps before, but this was the first Most Improved Player award I’ve ever got,” said the eighth grader from Frank Wright Middle School in Imperial. “My shooting got better and I’m playing much better defense.

“This year, with what I’ve learned from the camp, I’m going to try out for the eighth grade (basketball) team and I think I have a real good chance to make it and I can’t wait to come back next year,” he said.

Aye was pretty impressed with the growth and confidence he saw throughout the camp which lets him know, the coaches and players did their job.

“The camp went great and I can see that every camper got better and left here learning something,” Aye said. “I’m hoping all the kids learned, from the pro and college players, will inspire the kids in the Valley to go to college.”

carnicerodegiles · Posted: 22 Aug 2008 04:12 PM Post subject: