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KANSAN.COM
Chalmers' camp aims to give back to community
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DEREK SKILLETT
@Derek_Skillett
Former Kansas basketball great and current Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers returned to Lawrence for his sixth annual Mario Chalmers Miracle Basketball Camp, held in the Sports Pavilion at Rock Chalk Park.
"It feels great [to be back in Lawrence]," Chalmers said. "I come back every year, so it's always good to come back to where it all started for me."
Chalmers' camp welcomed about 40 kids from around Kansas who wanted to learn the game of basketball.
"Basically we come in and try to do a skill-based set," said Ronnie Chalmers, the organizer of the camp and Mario's father. "We try to take the kids and do some drills and teach them the right fundamentals of basketball. Nothing that their normal coaches don't do, but we just try to enhance what they already know and try to make corrections on their mistakes."
Alex Watts, an 11-year-old from Lawrence, was one of the participants in the camp.
"It's been fun and amazing. I never thought I would have the chance to learn from [Mario]," Watts said. "They've been teaching me dribbling and shooting."
Watts said he was notified about the camp through an email from his basketball coach at the Kansas United Youth Basketball Club.
DJ Sackmann is one of the coaches who helped Chalmers teach the children about basketball through the I'm Possible Basketball Training organization.
"We just try to help the kids grow through the game of basketball," Sackmann said. "We have a progressive approach, so we really start by challenging the kids' skills, make sure that they're mistake-driven when they're training.
"We try to keep it small so the kids have more development as far as the coaches are concerned. Each kid is getting individualized attention, which is really good for them," Sackmann added.
Ronnie said all of the money raised from the camp would be donated to charities, like the Mario Chalmers Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs in Kansas and Mario's Closet, which offers affordable solutions to target the physical effects of cancer treatment. They will also donate to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital to support cancer patients and survivors.
Ronnie did note that attendance numbers for the camp were down a little this year.
"We've been operating in a deficit, believe it or not. Numbers have been down," Ronnie said. "We really don't make a profit from it; this is something that we like to do, so we just do it. We like to give back to the community."
"From what I've seen they look pretty good," Mario said. "I think they finally have some upperclassmen in Frank [Mason] and Wayne [Selden, Jr.] and Perry [Ellis] that can lead the team. I think they'll be pretty good."
The camp, which began Saturday will continue until Wednesday.
Mario was not shy about sharing some thoughts on the 2015-16 Kansas basketball team.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Mario Chalmers shoots the basket that tied the NCAA championship game April 7, 2008. Chalmers hosted a basketball camp this week.
COMING UP AT
KC
401 LISTER ST KANSAS CITY, MO AT GRINDERS
FRIDAY, JULY 3
GOGOL
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EDWARD
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AND THE
MAGNETIC
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THE BRIGHT LIGHT
SOCIAL HOUR
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THE GREEN
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HIPPIEFEST 2015
THE FAMILY STONE
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