For seven years, prospective hoop stars have been honing their skills at the annual Georgiana School Summer Youth Basketball Camp.

And for seven years, they’ve left with a  lot more than better dribbling skills or an improved jump shot—they walked away with a true appreciation for the game.

Georgiana School head basketball coach Kirk Norris said that the key to instilling a passion for basketball in campers lay in making the experience a fun one.

“We try to teach them the skills to be successful while playing the game of basketball,” Norris said.

“We try and do this by making it fun and enjoyable for them.  Basically, they are learning skills while having fun doing it.”

The camp will center on fundamental basketball skills, such as dribbling, passing, shooting and defense.

The camp will also feature daily competitions and games to drive these skills home, including gotcha, hot shot, free throw contests and five-on-five games.

Norris expects that this year’s camp will have approximately 50-65 attendees, including boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 14, though there could possibly be more as the camp has grown in popularity since its inception seven years ago.

Many notable Georgiana Panthers from the school’s storied past and present will be on hand to serve as camp instructors, including student assistant coach Matt Campbell, former Georgiana player Adrian Rich and current players Richard Boggan and Jacquez Payton.

For Norris, the camp is another opportunity to provide a positive influence on the area’s youth.

“It’s great to have current and former players help out at camp,” Norris added.

“Our young kids have grown up watching those guys play, and they look up to them.  They are a great influence on our young kids.”

This year’s camp is scheduled for Monday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 4, beginning at 8 a.m. each day and concluding at noon.

The cost to attend the camp is $25, and each camper will receive a Georgiana Basketball Camp T-shirt.

The deadline to register is May 22, and late registration will be held on June 2 prior to camp.

For more information, contact Norris at (334) 488-4579 or (334) 376-9130.