Upcoming RBK Camp Creates Exposure and Opportunity
Ron Bailey, Publisher
May 23, 2007 – A lot of young men aspire to participate in national level, invite-only hoops camps, where many of the best players nationally convene to not only compete, but learn. Unfortunately, there have been several major historical impediments to attending these events – the slots were either pre-allocated, and/or earmarked for distribution to members of specific travel teams. In essence, the selection wasn’t always a meritocracy.
As a way of further democratizing this process, enter Reebok’s Headliner Tryout Camps. A collection of 17 camps held at disparate sites nationally, the Headliner Camps allow talented young men in the classes of 2008, 2009, 2010 to earn their way - regardless of previous exposure and team affiliation - to the prestigious Reebok Breakout Underclass Camp (rising sophomores and juniors) or Reebok U (invitees participate regardless of class).
Christopher Rivers, Reebok’s Director of Basketball and a nine year veteran of national basketball camp production, recently shared he and the company’s motivation for the Headliner Camps as “Let’s give kids a shot, and exposure”, before expounding upon their national camp feeder structure. “I think it’s better regionally from a local level. It’s going to benefit them more”, as regionalized exposure at one point can lead to subsequent national attention. Of course increased self-confidence is generated by all of the above.
Though four to five young people from each Headliner Camp will go on to the national events, Rivers cautioned players, family, and coaches not to allow that goal to be the sole focus for attendance. “If you are coming just for the invite, don’t come” said Rivers, who constantly reiterates the event’s general exposure benefits.
Fitting a basketball rich area such as the Washington D.C./Baltimore region, Reebok and Rivers have designated a local Headliner Camp to take place June 2-3, 2007, at the state of the art athletic facility, Hoop Magic Sports Academy (Chantilly, VA). The man in charge of administering the event, Randy White, is excited about both its opportunity and challenge.
“It is an honor to be involved and I appreciate the confidence that both Chris Rivers and Reebok have in me to run this event” remarked White, a long time coach and hoops figure in the D.C. area. “I think my years of doing all types of basketball events from running the basketball camps at the University of Arkansas when I was in school, serving as Director of Nova United for the past 11 years, to being involved in many of the Top 100 events in our area gives me the working knowledge of the task at hand”.
“Running an event is both rewarding and taxing” continued White whose organizational skills and knowledge have allowed him to be charged with planning a major, national political event in the Midwest this summer.
He, like Rivers, also focused on the other benefits of attending beyond invitation to the national level confabs, saying “I am hopeful that at the end of the event, everyone will have enjoyed their experience and feel like they have made progress with their basketball goals”.
All pertinent specifics can be gleaned from the press release and Reebok Camp product offering linked below, as well as visiting www.ballercircuit.com. Registration is still open.
“I think having the event in our area is an acknowledgement of the great talent we have from Virginia to D.C. and Maryland” stated White, a sentiment shared by Rivers.
“It’s a way to reach out” opined Rivers, before adding “I’ve been a part of it where kids didn’t have a good chance of attending” a major camp. The Reebok Headliner Camp’s relationship to that organization’s national level events in some ways creates more of a meritocracy, allowing some young men will be able to earn their way to immediate and eventual national exposure.
And a chance is all that you can ask for. One in which D.C./B’More has in its backyard
Rbk Headliner Camp Press Release