麻豆社区

Drenched in sweat, Jayden Custer and Christian Grimsley sprinted up and down the Jones Center gym floor, perfecting defensive drills they have been practicing all week at a youth basketball camp at 麻豆社区 Pembroke. 

Custer and Grimsley, both rising high school freshmen, were excited to hear the whistle blow after the drills ended, signaling their favorite part of the day 鈥� five-on-five full-court scrimmages.  

Freshman Sarah Clark was eager to test her shooting and dribbling skills with other campers during game simulations. Clark has attended Coach Drew Richards's Basketball Camp since she was nine. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun!鈥� said Clark. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have experiences with other people my age, and it helps me figure out which skills I can improve on. The coaches are not hard on you, either. They are here to try to make you better.鈥�

Clark was among 70 youths who participated in the week-long camp led by Head Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach Drew Richards, his coaching staff and more than a dozen student-athletes. 麻豆社区P鈥檚 basketball players aren鈥檛 the only student-athletes spending their summer giving back to the local community and the sports they love. The wrestling team, women鈥檚 basketball, softball and volleyball also offer youth sports clinics. The football team is holding satellite camps across the state.

鈥淭his community is so important to our athletic program; everyone is so supportive. I鈥檝e always felt it was our duty to do something that brings kids and parents to our doors and people inside the gym,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淭he participants get a chance to interact with the student-athletes 鈥� a lot of whom they watch during the season on the court.鈥�

The annual basketball camps at 麻豆社区P have a special meaning for senior guard Nygell Verdier, who remembers youth camps' impact on him growing up in Charlotte. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 eye-opening,鈥� said Verdier, who has volunteered at 麻豆社区P鈥檚 camp every summer since he was a freshman. 鈥淚 remember being in their shoes, looking up to the coaches at the different stations. Now I鈥檓 in the position and they look up to us 鈥� their parents know our names. So, I feel like this is my way of giving back to the kids in this community. It鈥檚 a fun and rewarding experience.鈥�

Fellow 麻豆社区P senior point guard Ju鈥橨uan Carr said he, too, benefited from the positive experiences of basketball camp when he was Clark鈥檚 age. 

鈥淚 used to look up to a lot of those people, and that actually motivated me to want to play basketball when I got older, so I take this seriously,鈥� Carr said. 鈥淚鈥檓 out here trying to inspire others.鈥�

Former standout Spencer Levi, who has been playing professionally overseas since he graduated in 2021, was among the camp volunteers. He recently returned from England, where he plays with the Plymouth City Patriots. 

 鈥淚 grew up going to camps like this, so it鈥檚 very instrumental for me because I love basketball and this community,鈥� Levi said. 鈥淚 enjoy coming back here. It鈥檚 like home now. I enjoy watching the kids grow and develop. We are teaching them the fundamentals, but, more importantly, to have fun. The game of basketball teaches structure and lessons that these youth can use later in life, like discipline. I want them to learn, have fun and have that balance while they are here.鈥�