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News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
Camp gives youth chance to learn from NBA veteran
- Story byNews-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
- Camp gives youth chance to learn from NBA veteran
Former NBA and UNC-Chapel Hill basketball player Ty Lawson spent time with young basketball players during the N.C. Foothills Finest Student Athletes Platform's "Shockwave" Basketball Camp, presented in partnership with BallDawgs, at Lenoir's Martin Luther King Jr. Center on Oct. 3.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center buzzed with activity as about 40 elementary and middle school students worked on drills, ball-handling, defense and shooting throughout the day.
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"This camp is the first of many to come as we will try to continue to bring special guests and have exclusive events to our area," camp director Craig Largent said in a statement on social media. "Our ultimate goal is to motivate the youth of the 828 area to keep pushing themselves to the limit, both on the basketball court and in the classroom."
Largent also said the organization is dedicated to providing local families with access to elite opportunities closer to home at reasonable and affordable prices.
Howard Pearson, who helps oversee activities at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, said it was unbelievable to see the level of talent displayed by the kids.
"Every kid who participated in the camp was on a high-level," he said, adding that overall the experience was great. He expressed his gratitude to the trainers who helped, the community members who came to support the event and the center's manager, Cathy Dula.
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Participants refined their skills alongside Lawson, a standout for the North Carolina Tar Heels who was selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft. After six seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Lawson played for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards.
During one of the students' interviews, Lawson said he had always wanted to help host camps in smaller communities where he could teach, take his time and work closely with each player.
Along with Lawson, T.J. Tipps, Dominique Smith, Jordan Dillingham and Adrian Powell assisted in training the children. James Shell assisted in operating the clock during the training sessions.
While the camp focused on sharpening court skills, it also served as a hands-on learning opportunity for students involved in the My P.E. Kids Film and Media Academy.
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According to the academy, student media coverage gives young people firsthand experience in preparing and presenting news to the community. Students joined the action on the court to conduct interviews and capture footage from the event.
Among the student newscasters were Jru Steptoe, Kingston Nguyen, Brayden Smith and the camp's elementary session MVP, Ledger Reinhardt, all of whom brought enthusiasm to their interviews with Lawson, said the academy.
My P.E. Kids Film & Media Academy was founded by producer and writer Lauren Patterson.
This month, My P.E. Kids will take its storytelling skills from the court to the screen. During the Oct. 20 film class, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., participants will work together to create a scary short film in just one hour. The film will premiere on Oct. 30 at the MLK Jr. Recreation Center's Fall Festival.
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All classes at My P.E. Kids Film and Media Academy are free. The program is open to youth ages 9 to 18. To sign up for the film class, explore My P.E. Kids' media projects or learn about upcoming projects, visit www.MyPEKids.com .
To learn more about programs and activities offered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and other Lenoir Parks and Recreation programs, follow Lenoir Parks and Recreation on Facebook.
