Vermillion, South Dakota Breakthrough Basketball Shooting Camp!!!

When you travel around running hoops camps, one of the biggest obstacles you worry about is the passion of the athletes and coaches.  When you travel from Pinehurst, NC to Vermillion, SD you worry about it a little bit more, just because you know no one!  I did not need to worry one bit!  What a great experience for me to be surrounded by great coaches that love the game and athletes that stayed engaged 98% of the time.  Thank you Greg, Sharon, Jay, J, Samm, Nate and Adam!  You guys made it a blast to work!  One of the thoughts that has always stuck in my mind is from Pete Carril..."Be a light bulb."  When you walk in the gym light the place up with your passion, eagerness, etc...  The 55+  athletes did that for me in a big way.  They gave me more passion and excitement for the game.  It was a group of athletes that are used to working hard and knew how to stay engaged for a long time.  I had fun speaking with a few at the hotel about their hometowns / life.  

Me - "What other sports do you play?"
12 yr old Athlete - "I play 'rodeo', football and basketball. I don't really like football because I get hammered by the bigger kids, but I have to play because there are only about 30 kids in the school that play football.  They let me play in the 7th grade." (He was about 5'2" and 100lbs...maybe)
Me - with a smile... "How do you 'play' rodeo?"
Athlete - serious face... "Ride steer."  the face was like - DUH!
Me - "What else do you do at home, there can't be too much to do?" (he was from a tiny SD town)
Athlete - "I usually wake up and help at the farm and also at other farms around, then play whatever in the afternoons. Then wake up and do it again."  

I love the simpleness and the work ethic that is instilled these kids.  They don't know any difference! I wish I could bottle them up and take them to the next camp.  

I can't thank Breakthrough Basketball enough for giving me the opportunity to go around and teach the great game.  Adam, Nate, J, Jay, Greg and Sharon, Samm -  thanks so much for the great week!

​https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/camps/