Basketball has taken former Owensboro Catholic star Becca Greenwell to great heights, and despite now putting on camps all across the country, it’s the event when she comes home that means the most.
“Coaching the youth and mentoring the youth is one of my favorite things to do,” she said. “Growing up, the way I became so successful and how I got better each year was going to camps and clinics as a kid. I know firsthand how important it is and how great of an opportunity it is to have camps in your city.”
Greenwell is hosting the third annual BG Skills Clinic Aug. 29 at the Owensboro YMCA where she already has all the spots filled.
Independence Bank and Moore Automative Team are sponsoring the clinic, but that’s not the only local influence.
Greenwell said she’s getting shirts from a local business and also having area coaches help as well.
“I try to get as many local people involved as I can,” she said.
Starting the clinic was a goal for Greenwell for a while but because of NCAA bylaws, she couldn’t while she was still playing for the Duke Blue Devils. Immediately after graduating from Durham, she started her first camp that summer.
“I want to give back to youth especially in the local area where I grew up and provide opportunity to be able to get better so they can potentially reach their dreams …” she said. “I want to give back to Owensboro because it’s a town that’s given so much to me growing up.”
As with most else, COVID-19 was a factor as Greenwell prepared for the third edition of the clinic, but she was able to find a gym and get everything planned on short notice.
Greenwell said she’s adding another aspect of the session this year as injury prevention is going to be a focus.
“Definitely something I could speak to,” she said. “I’ve had seven surgeries so I know how important it is to start them young when it comes to injury prevention. Excited to add that component this year.”
The eventual goal for the former Lady Ace is to extend the camp to an entire week so campers get to hear her story and learn more skills on the court but for Greenwell, it’s about what she can teach them off the court.
“The life skills that come not just playing basketball but playing sports in general, I’ve really been able to see firsthand how many benefits come from playing sports and it’s really opened so many doors for me,” she said. “I just want more kids to have that opportunity I had and stick with it even if it’s something they don’t want to do forever, at least stick with it and have fun and try to build relationships through it and life skills because that’s what’s going to take them the furthest.”
Greenwell has worked at the National Basketball Players Association since January where she works in grassroots basketball and business development.
“We run massive camps for the NBPA,” she said. “When there’s not a pandemic, we’re running camps in New York, L.A., Miami. We do basketball camps, clinics, fantasy experiences. I’m learning a lot with the NBPA and I’m able to translate down to the local level with what I do.”
Greenwell said she’s able to take what she learns during her day job to other aspects of her life.
“It’s kind of a natural transition,” she said. “I’ve always had interest in running camps and being entrepreneurial with it.”
When most people work with professional athletes, they often have a moment where they look around and wonder how they got to that point.
For Greenwell, it came before the pandemic when she was working at the offices in Manhattan.
The NBPA has a facility that players can use whenever they’re in town and on that particular day, the Miami Heat were in town.
As they filed down the hall, Greenwell said she heard someone say her name. When she turned around, it was Justice Winslow. Greenwell said she and Winslow became friends while the pair played at Duke.
“I was just looking over the middle of Manhattan out of the window and thought ‘how did I get here,’” she said.
Greenwell said she currently doesn’t have a dream position but she does have something she’s working toward.
“My main goal is to try to impact as many people’s lives through basketball as I can,” she said. “I think right now with my current role, I’m able to do it. We hold massive programs for kids all over the country. We’re really able to touch a lot of lives and make a positive impact through the sport. I say whatever role can do that, that’s what’s going to make me the happiest.”
