Hoops in Session

Published 6:58 pm Monday, April 3, 2017

LaGRANGE- There’s no spring break this week at the Williams Griggs Recreational Center.

The Wolverines Basketball organization is holding a basketball camp from through Friday for both boys and girls (Kindergarten through fifth grade) where the youth will have the chance to learn the basics and fundamentals of the sport.

The Wolverines are a non-profit travel basketball team comprised of eighth- and ninth-graders graders from the LaGrange area made into two teams. The group of traveling players will be participating and help work with younger campers on certain skills as the week progresses.

“This is a very tight-knit group of kids,” said Kay Hill, one of the directors of the LaGrange Wolverines organization. “Both of our teams make up all three middle schools and three high schools in Troup County. Every summer, we get the teams together to play and try to reach our ultimate goal of getting to nationals in Orlando.”

The basketball camp features the players and campers working from station to station on different aspects of the game from everything to defensive slide drills to shooting drills to chest/bounce/overhead passing drills. They also practice skills like dribbling in place with one hand as they catch a tennis ball in the other hand, foot drills, learning how to establish post position, lay up drills and much more.

“These kids just finished playing a tournament this weekend and here they are back in here today,” said Amy Stepp, the executive director of the LaGrange Wolverines organization. “These kids have a real passion for this and they continue to work hard. Hopefully we can get them to the nationals. With the camp, we just wanted to try and give back to the community.”

The Wolverines Basketball Clinic also is a fundraising event for the traveling team, as they continue to strive to reach the basketball organization’s goal of competing in nationals, as well as being a strong staple in LaGrange.

“This is a fundraising event but this is also a way to give back to the youths in the community,” said Hill. “Having our boys teaching the younger kids different skills and having them learn more about the fundamentals of the game is really important. We also want them to have fun too.”

Lunch will be provided everyday for the campers and on Friday, a round-robin tournament will take place.

 

Reach James Simpson II at 706-884-7311, ext. 2155 or by email at james.simpson@lagrangenews.com