Kids gain skills at basketball camps

Fernie Castillo / The Prospector

The alarm clock buzzes away, marking another day of work at the Tony Barbee basketball camp. Most boys and girls, ranging in age from 7 to 18, would prefer to be in bed at 9 a.m., but not the campers. All were awake before the first whistle was blown. “I used to wake up at five in the morning for football practice,” 13-year-old Josh Bush said. “So I was equipped to do this.” Bush and his peers made the early morning trip to the Don Haskins Center. Each had different skill sets pertaining to their age, but all shared one common trait that brought them together. “I like basketball,” 7-year-old Devin Jordan Howard said. “Basketball is fun and it’s a good sport.” This love for the game was echoed throughout the campers, who went through the various drills and contests to showcase their talents. The court was filled with the bouncing balls and squeaking shoes, ready for the next whistle to be blown. “We had a lot of competition during the camp,” Bush said. “Beat the buzzer and hot shot were competitive and helped improve my shooting and dribbling.” The competition and the lessons taught the campers valuable life lessons, UTEP head men’s basketball coach Tony Barbee said.

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