THE annual NIKE/Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Star Search basketball and Life Development skill camp continue to contribute immensely to the development and growth of basketball locally.

The 11th annual renewal of the highly rated skills training camp concluded at the GC Foster College last Friday and members of the Jamaica Basketball Development (JDB) Inc, an overseas basketball body that assists with the development of the game in Jamaica, insists that this camp remains crucial to the progress of the local game.

Michael Minto, the JBD treasurer, says he continues to be impressed by the transition of the campers each year and this year he was especially pleased to see so many youngsters participating in the event.

“This year could be a very good year for kids to get opportunities as we have seen a lot good young talent, and I’m really impressed to see the transition from one year to the next, especially with these young kids,” he said.

“You see the improvements day by day and everyday they get better and they use what they’ve learnt from the camp in the game,” he continued.

He pointed out that the camp is the main avenue for young players to get opportunities to play overseas, especially in US colleges.

“We have a lot of communication with the local partner, JABA, and this is an all year plan, but the future looks very bright for us,” he said.

Still, he admitted that there are some improvements they would like to make to ensure the yearly camp gets much better.

Meanwhile, the JBD director of media communication, Leonard Whyte, said although the number was down from last year’s camp, they saw an influx of over 70 per cent newcomers, most of whom were youngsters, which he thought was very encouraging.

“We also want to move the camp from end of June or early July so we can accommodate the scholarship scouts, who came last year but could not make it this year because of the timing,” he said.

However, Seth Gilmore, one of the coaches invited to instruct the campers, disclosed that the camp was buzzing with incredible athletes and basketballers.

“They are so coachable and teachable and they have great attitudes and it has just been a true joy and pleasure working with these kids and overall they have left a great impression on me,” he commented.

He also pointed out that: “Camps like these are absolutely critical for kids to develop the fundamentals that it takes to compete on a global level.

“When you look at basketballers in Europe and the US, they are not just super athletes, they are fundamentally sound and these kids seem to grasp that and I think they really understand how important fundamentals are now.

“Hopefully they will take the skills they learn here and use them everyday and get that much better because of what they learn here,” he stated.

Over 130 players, including nine females, participated in a five-day camp, with Dale Copeland copping the most valuable male camper award and LaDonna Lamonth the female award.

Copeland was also the senior three-point champion, while Christopher Evans won the intermediate and Ricardo Miller, the junior title.

Lamonth also won the 1×1 title and teamed up with Abby-Gail Larmond and Shaduky Jameil to win the 3 on 3 contest and then with Paul Richards to win the star search shooting award.

Keiron Dill won the senior 1×1 title, with Evans taking the intermediate and Javon Davis winning the juniors.

Richards was the slam Dunk champion, while Maliek McCarthy won the free-throw junior crown, Ajani Allegue took the intermediate and Sheldon Phillip the senior title.

The female award went to Daniel Johnson, who was also the most disciplined female camper, while Ian Helps was the most disciplined male camper.