MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Once every summer, you can count on the Harlingen and Harlingen South basketball minds to come together for the benefit of young student-athletes through the Harlingen Rising Stars Basketball Camp.
On Monday, the camp kicked off for the 10th consecutive year at the Harlingen High School gym, with approximately 70 first through ninth graders from Harlingen and surrounding communities attending.
The camp, which began Monday, meets for four hours each day through Thursday and campers are coached on the fundamentals of basketball by coaches from both Harlingen and Harlingen South as well as former players from both schools.
While the campers are learning the game, Cardinals boys basketball coach Greg Yates said the real experience is watching the campers grow up and move through the programs.
“It’s really neat to see these kids move on to play varsity basketball at Harlingen or Harlingen South. I love the game and I try to promote it to the youth,” Yates said. “It’s nice to see kids move on and at the same time get a good idea about their skill level. It’s fun when you get to coach them in high school and have a rapport with them. You get to know the players and even their family.”
The camp not only helps teach the game of basketball, but guest speakers and even a magician have been on hand to help teach more lessons beyond basketball.
For Yates and the rest of the camp’s coaches, it’s more than being just a coach.
“I enjoy being a player’s coach, but we’re also here to be a counselor, coach and friend,” Yates said. “Coaches wear a lot of different hats; it’s fun to just see the kids grow and learn. The kids know the expectations here at camp and it flows into the Harlingen basketball programs.”
Campers received a T-shirt, a basketball, a water bottle and a draw string back pack along with breakfast and lunch every day for the duration of the camp.
OLD FACES, NEW ROLES: Among the young campers were many former players assiting at the camp from both Harlingen and Harlingen South.
South’s Gabe Britten, fresh off graduation, decided to lend a hand to the same camp he attended when he was younger.
“It’s fundamentals camp with both varsity coaches here, so these camps can help get you noticed and it’s where Coach Molina first knew who I was, so it gave me a good start,” Britten said.
“I’ll do anything to help, but it’s awesome getting to be on the other side of things. I love the game and so do the kids; you just want them to be the best that they can.”
While Britten is new to being a camp teacher, Michael Williams, a 2011 graduate of Harlingen High and current Lindenwood University basketball player, has helped every year since graduating.
For him, it’s been a humbling experience.
“It’s always great to help out the kids and I have a blast; they’re awesome,” Williams said. “The campers really look up to you as a coach. It really helps put things in perspective and it makes me want to strive to be better as a student in college.”