Tuesday, April 16, 2024
The upcoming Granbury Pirate basketball camp set June 27-20 is a chance for youngsters to improve their skills and to meet and be coached by former and current varsity basketball players.
"I think the varsity guys get a bigger kick out of basketball camp than some of our campers," Granbury High School head basketball David Breazeale said. "The guys get out there and realize these younger kids look up to them the same way they look up to NBA players."
Breazeale said he hopes to have recent graduate Sawyer Schenewark and current varsity players Trent Gray, Corbin King and Anthony Salgado on hand. Still, the days will vary depending on their prior commitments.
The start of many an NBA career has started in camps just like the one being hosted by Breazeale, whose winning basketball career (500-plus) has allowed him to model a camp where learning the fundamentals are interwoven into drills and skill competitions and straight-out play.
"The way we run camp is the first hour is fundamental work ball handling, passing just basic fundamental type stuff," Breazeale said. "Then, in the second hour, we do our competitions where we will have hot-shot contests and more."
A whole lot more, it turns out.
"There's a lot of prizes they can win each day and frozen Popsicle sticks and things like that. That's a big deal to pique their interest in the game. And so hopefully they'll kind of want to play in leagues if they're an elementary school, or, you know, come out for basketball if they're going into junior high school," Breazeale said. "We want them to leave camp excited about basketball."
Breazeale also has some advice for parents regarding being patient with beginning players and not expecting too much all at once.
"What I would say is don't worry, especially with the young ones. What their talent level is right now? Is he one of the best ones? Is he one of the worst ones? That's not really that important. After all, he may be one of the worst ones right now because he weighs, you know, 65 pounds, and he's going into fifth grade," Breazeale said. "Some players develop their skills a little later than others. Just let them enjoy the game when they are young."
The camp costs $75 or $135 for two brothers (same family). The fee includes prizes, a t-shirt and camp awards.
Registration forms are available at Granbury High School or the GISD administration building.
Checks should be made out to the Granbury Athletic Dept. For more information, contact coach David Breazeale at 817-894-2831.
Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 231
