Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball is teaming up once again with the Owensboro Family YMCA for a youth basketball camp, offering young players a chance to sharpen their skills and “fall in love with the game” alongside college athletes and coaches.
The camp will run July 22-25 at the YMCA, located at 900 Kentucky Parkway, and is open to players ages 5-16. Registration is available online or in-house through July 24.
There are two sessions based on age:
- Junior Panthers (ages 5-8): 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$90 for both members and non-members – register here - Senior Panthers (ages 8-16): 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$160 for both members and non-members – register here
Now in its fourth year, the camp is part of a growing partnership between KWC and the YMCA. Panthers head coach Drew Cooper said the camp serves not only as a skills clinic but as a way to connect young athletes with high-level college players.
“We do feel like the quality of instruction and the quality of our guys is really an opportunity for the youth in our community to get to know our guys and be around very high-level basketball players,” Cooper said. “The YMCA does a great job of handling registration and hosting the camp, and our program runs it alongside them. It’s a great partnership.”
Each camper receives lunch daily, and instruction will focus on fundamentals, teamwork, and fun. While the camp includes drills and teaching moments, Cooper said the atmosphere is designed to keep kids engaged and excited.
“For this age group, just having fun and falling in love with basketball is the most important thing,” Cooper said. “We try to strike a balance between teaching fundamentals and making sure they enjoy the game.”
Cooper added that the timing of the camp also gives his players a chance to participate in Owensboro’s Dust Bowl basketball tournament in the evenings, helping integrate the team even more into the local community.
“It’s a win-win,” Cooper said. “This gives our players an opportunity to come in, work by day, and compete in a staple in the community in the Dust Bowl. That event is awesome, and we love being a part of it.”
For more information or questions about the camp, contact Tom Bontrager at the YMCA at 270-663-8205 or [email protected].
