LIHUE — Coach Clyde Vito said the Conboy Basketball camp was one more thing young people could do during spring break.
“They’re learning something constructive,” said Vito of the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Coach Matthew Conboy, with a long string of credentials, including USA overseas NBA and WNBA lead scout and skills development, set the pace for the inaugural Conboy Basketball clinic for students in the fifth through 12th grades at the Kauai High School gym.
The clinic started Sunday and wrapped up Monday two groups — Group I for players in the fifth through seventh grades, and Group II for players in the eighth through 12th grades.
Coach Clarence Sales of the Kauai Lynx Basketball coordinated the two-day camp attended by about 50 kids.
“This is really a good clinic,” said Mone Malafu, a seventh-grade student from Kapaa. “It’s good because it helps kids get better at playing basketball. I took the clinic because I wanted to learn how transition works.”
Conboy did not disappoint as he mixed and matched, and used multiple players in hands-on play on concepts he explained, many of the drills drawing from his coaching experiences.
“My wife and I, this is our first trip to Kauai,” Conboy said. “I love it, here. The people are really nice, and the students are eager to learn more about basketball. It’s really a good trip and I’m having a lot of fun working with these students. We really need to figure out how to come back more often.”
Conboy has owned and operated Pure Advantage Basketball in Portland, Ore., since 2006. He trains third grade to college, and professional male and female players year-round in the Portland area.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
