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McLemore returns to Lawrence for second annual youth camp
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek_skillett
Long before he averaged 15 points and five rebounds as the star of Kansas basketball's 2012-13 squad, Ben McLemore lived in poverty in St. Louis, Mo. Wanting to provide the resources he lacked in childhood to others, he hosted his second annual Ben McLemore Youth Basketball Camp last week.
"I never had a guy like me come back to my community to teach me the game of basketball, work with me, take me to camps, things like that," McLemore said. "Having the opportunity to get back to St. Louis and Kansas and Sacramento — it's nice to have the type of team to be able to teach the kids."
VALERIE HAAG/KANSAN
McLemore's camp, sponsored by
Ben McLemore plays with the camp participants during his skills camp at the Sports Pavilion in Lawrence last Wednesday. McLemore played for the Jayhawks during the 2012-13 season.
a youth sports camp organization called iSG Camps, welcomed about 80 kids to the Anschutz Sports Pavilion, many of whom came to the camp courtesy of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
The camps pair children from organizations like the Boys and Girls Club with professional athletes across America in three-day camps where the athletes interact with the kids and help them learn about sports.
Marcus Stewart, one of the camp volunteer coaches, said iSG Camps played a major role in pairing the athletes with the camps and getting all the participants together.
"Most everybody that does the iSG Camps are from Ohio," Stewart said. "We travel to different places and the flights, details, everything comes
out of there. We just run a good show and make sure the athletes are comfortable and the kids are comfortable and do the best that we can."
McLemore spent his time at the camp leading drills with the participants and demonstrating his dunking ability to the eager campers.
"I had a good opportunity to interact with [the kids], teach them different things, going around to different stages and stuff like that," McLemore said. "They're having fun and enjoying their time here and learning the game of basketball and working on their game."
"I always tell myself that I wish I
Although this camp was exclusive to Lawrence, McLemore participates in camps in his hometown of St. Louis, Mo., and in Sacramento, Calif.
had this and that, but now I'm the one who's here and having the opportunity to do so," McLemore said.
"I want to provide the best way I can for these kids.I'm really happy that I have this opportunity."