The Morgan County Lady Bulldogs’ basketball program hosted a “Back to the Basics” youth camp from June 6-10 in the school’s gymnasium.
Every morning from 8 a.m. to noon, first through seventh grade boys and girls have been learning the fundamentals of basketball in a variety of ways.
The beginning of the morning consists of technical drills while the latter half of the camp incorporates fun games that are meant to put the skills learned a few hours earlier to the test.
Lady Bulldogs’ head basketball coach Milfred Franklin has been excited with what he’s seen so far.
“I’m very pleased with the turn out we’ve had so far,” Franklin said. “The energy the kids have been bringing to camp each day has been great. They’ve been so enthusiastic and really enjoying learning about the game of basketball.”
Franklin also explained the meaning behind the camp’s motto - Back to the Basics.
“Well the basics we are getting back to is teaching kids how to play the right way,” Franklin said. “Fundamental skills like dribbling, learning how to play defense the correct way, focusing on how to shoot the ball properly and overall helping them communicate, because a lot of kids don’t know how to communicate while playing basketball.”
The camp has seen around 60 boys and girls in attendance running around and having fun when games are being played, but tentatively listening to the coaches instructions when necessary.
Overall, the amount of kids participating gives Franklin high hopes that youth development will eventually lead to successful groups of athletes at the high school level.
“We’re starting to make the turn to get basketball back to be more well known in Morgan County,” Franklin said. “With the turnout of this week’s camp, we like how things are starting to progress in terms of the future of basketball for Morgan County.”