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Campers Get Back To Basics

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 26, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - Standing along the baseline of the East Pasco Family YMCA, sporting an Orlando Magic T-shirt and black shorts, Magic basketball camp site director Steve McElroy is involved in a bit of trickery.

"Coach says shot," he orders, throwing his right hand in the air as if performing a jumper.

Clinging to his every word, the attentive campers mimic shooting a basketball.

"Coach says slide," McElroy yells, moving his hand to his right.

They slide.

That is followed by a "Charge!"

Immediately, a couple of kids fall backward onto the court, as if taking a charge.

There's a problem. McElroy didn't start the command with the phrase, "Coach says."
Those kids are out until the game restarts.

Nearly 30 players participated in the five-day camp, in the YMCA's gym. It is the first time the camp has been held there.

"When we come to town, we're trying to spread the good name of the Magic, get more fans interested in Magic basketball, but No. 1, I want to see the kids get better," McElroy said. "I love coming to the different cities and seeing the different talent everywhere and just developing talent."

During the camp, the clinicians - which included Bob Galbert, a retired coach from Indiana who lives in Zephyrhills, John Long Middle School volleyball and basketball coach Cynthia Steel and Zephyrhills High basketball assistant Dustin Rowe - focused on the fundamentals and mixed things up with games and challenges to win Magic gear. Earlier in the week, a J.J. Redick jersey was given to the winner of a game called Money Ball, which is a simple free throw, until you factor in everybody yelling and coaches blowing whistles.

"It's nice. They taught us how to play basketball and a lot of stuff I didn't know," said 8-year-old Jaden Johnston, Galbert's grandson. "I learned it's tough."

The camp, open to players ages 7-16, has been held in St. Petersburg, Lakeland and at several Orlando sites this summer. It now moves on to Palm Coast and other Orlando locations.

"With them coming here, it's huge," said Shawn Brown, East Pasco Family YMCA's sports and camps director, who has worked with the Magic for the past four years and has been a clinician at their camps. "Hopefully, it builds that interest of, a big organization like the Magic is willing to come to a small town in Pasco County and run a basketball camp. Word of mouth is the biggest promoter. I think it's going to be huge, because a lot of these kids wouldn't have done a basketball camp."

According to Brown, the team also doled out five scholarships.

The unavailability of the team's players didn't dampen the effect on those who attended.

"It's been a lot of fun, and I've been learning a lot," said Akhil Mani, who will be a junior at Zephyrhills High. "I play for ZHS, but I've learned so much more here. They help you with fundamentals, and help round out all of your skills, and they have some knowledgeable coaches. That really helps out."

Those experiences will be in tow when Mani's high school season begins.

"Hard work," Mani said. "We're spending from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in here, so you have to always stay fresh, and even when you're tired, you have to push through."

Makes that bit of trickery along the baseline well worth it.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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