KALAHEO — For many of the approximately two dozen aspiring basketball players who showed up at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Saturday, the season is already over. But, the learning never stops as the youngsters, their coaches, and even parents, took
KALAHEO — For many of the approximately two dozen aspiring basketball players who showed up at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Saturday, the season is already over.
But, the learning never stops as the youngsters, their coaches, and even parents, took advantage of a one-day basketball camp led by Lyle Honda of California who represented the National Junior Basketball (NJB) program. The camp was coordinated by Maynard Shea of the Westside Hornets who met up with NJB representatives during a recent trip to O‘ahu.
“It’s something different,” coach Brian Inouye said as he watched the aspiring hoopsters, including his own son Aaron, go through the different drills and skill building programs.
“Any time you get something different (new), it’s good,” Inouye noted.
Steven Matsumoto, one of the coordinators for the Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association, was also on hand as were more than a handful of coaches representing many of the teams that play in the KYBA league.
Matsumoto said the NJB was not aware of the type of involvement on Kaua‘i, but is willing to help train people and players, that gesture shown in the three-part format of the Saturday camp. A coaches clinic opened the day followed by one-hour sessions with players, the younger players filling in the second hour with the more advanced players rounding out the day.
Players involved in AYSO soccer also stopped by following their game, and were able to pick up the training mid-point. The NJB was founded by Dennis Murphy, Jr. in 1984, and is a nonprofit organization that has blossomed into a national youth league with over 25,000 participants in six states.
Three divisions for boys and girls in first through 12th grades make up the structure for the league with clinics being offered that stress fundamental skills and personal growth.
Additionally, there are pro- Basketball camp helps young hoopsters grams for preparing the athlete for high school competition as well as for those who fail to make the high school team. Murphy, the program’s founder, was previously a coach at Garden Grove High School when he had a vision of a youth basketball league based on sportsmanship and player development. For more information on the NJB program, people can visit their website at www.njbl.org.
