WC hosts summer basketball camps

July 13, 2011

Waycross College’s athletic department recently hosted individual and team basketball camps for young athletes in the area.

“Baldwin’s Ballers Basketball Camp,” open to athletes age 6-16, was held in four weekly sessions during the month of June. The camp focused on fundamentals of the game – dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, and defense.

Cory Baldwin, head men’s basketball coach at Waycross College and camp coordinator, said the camp was a success and that the athletes appreciated having the chance to work hard on improving their skills.

“The neat part about the camp was that they (athletes) felt we worked them pretty good,” he said. “Their favorite part was just having a chance to play and workout with Waycross College players.”

Baldwin said members of the Swamp Fox basketball team assisted with the camp, which included coaching an all-star team comprised of the 12+ age group.

“We played our camp all-star team against different middle schools,” he said. “Some of our college players coached the all-star team, and they did a good job. I think they only lost two games.”

This was the second year of the camp. Baldwin said there were more athletes participating this year than in the inaugural year.

“Some made the drive from Coffee County and Wayne County to participate,” he said.

In addition to “Baldwin’s Ballers”, WC hosted team basketball camps during two weekends in June. Teams from Martha Puckett and Arthur Williams Middle Schools in Wayne County participated, as well as Brantley County Middle School. Varsity and junior varsity teams from Bacon, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Lanier, and Ware counties participated, along with Citizens Christian Academy in Douglas and Glynn Academy in Brunswick.

“June is not a typical time for basketball, but we bounced balls in our gym for 20 out of the 30 days in the month,” said Baldwin. “I hope both camps continue to grow to where we can add additional dates in July.”

Both the individual and team camps were sponsored by C & C Sports, Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Ellianos Coffee Company, The Patterson Bank, and Walker-Jones.

Waycross College has been a proud member of the University System of Georgia since the College’s founding in 1976.

Participants and coaches in the second annual “Baldwin’s Ballers Basketball Camp” gathered for a group picture in the Waycross College gymnasium. Cory Baldwin, head men’s basketball coach at Waycross College and camp coordinator, said the camp was a success with athletes coming from as far away as Coffee and Wayne counties to participate.