A week-long basketball camp featuring daily drills and lectures from UConn stand-out and future NBA player, Shabazz Napier, has drawn hundreds of ecstatic kids to South Windsor.
The two time NCAA champion kicked off camp Monday at Nomad’s Adventure Quest. In addition to basketball fundamentals, and twice daily games, campers are meeting face to face with the Heat’s latest pick, and listening to lectures about how he got started as a youngster.
Jake Ferrato, a 15 year old camper from Enfield said, “He sat us down and said that he used to go to camps like this, and the people like him, inspired him to go to the NBA, and that it’s an honor to inspire us, and have us come play because it’s his name and his camp. Somebody that is going to go play in the NBA, somebody that’s won NCAA championships, it’s just really cool to see.”
Ferrato’s favorite part about Napier’s game? “UConn really wasn’t supposed to win a national championship and this year and he brought them all the way there and won it, so just his will to win really inspires me.”
Samantha Ferrato , an eighth grade point guard from Enfield, experienced a personal moment of encouragement from the basketball superstar, “When I was playing with the older boys, he was like, oh nice defense and he gave me a high five and that made me really happy.”
The camp is open to both boys and girls 8 through 16 years old for $300 per week.