By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

He’s putting his players to work.

Ken Klinger, the boys’ basketball coach at LaGrange Academy, is hosting a youth camp in the school’s gymnasium this week.

Klinger’s helpers are members of the LaGrange Academy basketball team, including senior Terence Broaden, who’s enjoying the responsibility.

“It’s always fun just to give back to the community, and to just have fun with them and interact with them,” Broaden said. “That’s a cool thing. It’s great to have an opportunity like that.”

Klinger, who is preparing for his second season as the Warriors’ head coach, appreciates the effort the players are putting into the camp.

“They’ve taken pride in it, and taking ownership with the kids,” Klinger said. “They’re not just sitting here to get some money for the summer. They’re really working hard.”

Klinger is hosting three week-long camps during the summer.

The next one will be from July 8 to July 12 and it’ll be for boys and girls in kindergarten through the third grade. The final one from July 22 to July 26 will be for boys and girls in the third grade through eighth grade.

Klinger, an Alabama native who played basketball at Huntingdon College before beginning his coaching career, has this camp routine down pat.

“I’ve really been doing this camp since I was in high school, when I was a counselor,” Klinger said. “I’ve really been doing it for 25 years. It’s a lot of fun.”

Klinger added that “the kids are real engaged, and they’re enjoying the camp. There are a lot of activities. I’m big on making sure it’s go, go, go. You don’t want to give them a lot of downtime. You have to keep them active. We have little goals, and little prizes to motivate them. Kids love competition. If you can do a fun competition, without making it overly aggressive competition, it works out pretty good.”

OF NOTE: For information on the summer camps at LaGrange Academy, go to lagrangeacademy.org