Daquan Miller a rising senior at Carver high (green shirt) drives the basketball
against Dwight Earl (white shirt) of Glen High School during a scrimmage at
the center.
Basketball
from page B1
Hie camp is designed
for kids ages 6 through 19
and open to boys and girls.
According to Leak, the
goal of the camp is to get
the kids off of the streets
and to possibly assist kids
in making it to the next
level. Dining his time at
the center, Leak has
coached some of the best
the game has to offer, from
Chris Paul of the L.A.
Clippers to highly touted
Duke Freshman Harry
Giles. Leak's son, Antonio
Robinson, also played for
him and is currently play
ing overseas. His agent
came to speak with the kids
last week.
"1 came out to speak to
the kids last year and 1 was
free today, so when Brian
asked me to come, I did
because I like to give back
to the community when I
can," said James
Blackburn, director of bas
ketball at Power to Win
Sports. "I just wanted to let
them know it doesn't mat
ter where you come from
because if you work on
your game and you're good
enough, you can play pro
fessional ball."
Leak only charges $10
for the kids to participate in
the camp. The funds go to
an awards banquet at the
end of program, where all
of the kids receive a trophy.
Leak also has sponsors to
help fund his program
.such as Corey Simmons,
Ronnie Peoples and
Freddie Marshall to name a
few. They all donate their
time and money to help in
any way they can.
The kids say they really
enjoy the camp and said
they would rather be at the
center working on their
games than out running the
streets or possibly getting
into trouble. Many of the
youth come back year after
year.
"I've been here for
three years and I love being
here because I get to work
on my ball handling and
making my shot better,"
said Dwight Earl, a senior
at Glenn High School.
For Leak, keeping the
kids out of trouble and giv
ing them something pro
ductive to participate in is
paramount to him. He said
because of his upbringing,
he needed help to over
come his circumstances,
and he wants to do the
same for the young people
The kids in the Drills and Skills camp at the Carl Russell Community Center,
listen to advise from sports agent James Blackburn (white shirt, far right).
Director of Basketball at Power to Win Sports.
?????T??"???"IPI
9 Photo* by Timothy Ramsey
Skills and Drills camp director, Brian Leak and Carl H. Russell Community
Center recreation leader, Lakesha Byrd help the kids in the camp as much as
possible.
in his camp.
"What I love most is
seeing the kids go to the
lext level," said Leak.
VIany kids do not get the
opportunity to attend col
lege or have anyone to talk
to and direct them in the
right path to get into col
lege. 1 lived in the projects
and my success came from
people helping me get to
the next level and 1 owe
that to them."
Former Carver
standout Chris
Hairs ton (61)
wiU hold his
first annual
football camp at
Carver on
JulylS and 16.
Clinic
from page B1
helped organize the clinic, they decided to
put it on not only for the city but to give
back to the high school they attended and
the area that raised them.
The organizers wanted Carver alums
who have played on the collegiate level to
help run the camp because they have the
knowledge about the game to share and
give back. They felt as though a football
clinic at Carver was well overdue and
thought that Chris would be the perfect
person for the task.
"I just wanted to do something back at
home where we could get the Carver com
munity and the rest of Winston-Salem out
to have a good time and to learn from each
other," said Hairston.
During the camp the kids will concen
trate on the fundamentals of the game,
such as proper techniques of stance, foot
work and proper mechanics. They also
want to stress the importance of proper
guidance, because it develops confidence.
Academics are very important to Chris,
and he does not want the kids to lose sight
Submitted photo*
Hairs ton stated
he wanted to
? give something
hack to the com
munity that
raised him,
which is why he
decided to hold
the camp at
Carver High
School.
of excelling in the classroom as well.
The plan is to make the camp an annual
event and to have the camp grow each
year. The organizers want to focus on mak
ing the camp as solid as possible the first
time out, then add new, creative ideas as
the camp progresses.
"The major point we want the kids to
take from this camp will be its not just run
ning drills and competing; we really want
to emphasize the importance of educa
tion," Church said. "Chris is an example
of taking care of his books first, then tak
ing care of business on the field. Our goal
is to make a positive difference in the lives
of our youth."
Hairston said: "Don't take too much
time to look at what you've done and
always look to how you can build your
future. The game of football is a game that
can give you a lot but in order to earn it
you must set your mind to it and take care
of your business in the classroom."
For more information on the camp,
visit www.eventbrite .com/e/first-annual
chris-hairston-football-clinic-tickets.
Basics
from page BJ
pete, because today's generation has some trouble compet
ing on a daily basis," said Brown. "Just because you miss
a shot doesn't mean you become discouraged and stop
playing hard. I am constantly drilling in the kids to com
pete, fight and to play with energy."
Brown said he feels as though the young players of
today only see the finished product of the NBA players
and do not realize the hard work they have had to put in to
get to that level. He wants the campers to understand that
once you have a solid foundation with the basics, then you
can use those skills to incorporate other aspects into your
game.
Shooting is the biggest deficiency that Brown notices
in many of the young players today. He said with the way
the NBA has transitioned to a jump shooting league, many
young players want to instantly become three-point shoot
ers without mastering a basic lay up.
"What's happening is they see all of the three pointers,
and they see Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and they
want to be like them," Brown said. "Those guys are pro
lific shooters and one of the reasons why is because they
put in the time.
"When you have a younger player coming up, they
gravitate immediately to the three-point line. What I want
to teach the kids are to learn how to make a layup first and
the shots off the glass, then we can go to the three-point
line."
Have a Storv Idea? 1
Let us Know m@wlmickm |
White playing a pick up game during the camp, one
player gets his shot blocked attempting to make a
layup.
? v*- 6
Hkum by Timothy lUmry
Shooting was one of the major components of the
camp that WSSU Asst. Coach Andrew Brown wanted
to focus on during the camp.
' * J