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Junior high hoops camp breaks mold

Lebanon junior high coach Jeff Bergman coaches the Warriors during the Kings Junior High Summer Camp/League on Tuesday, June 23. Contributed photo by Scott Hayes

Stringer Lebanon junior high coach Jeff Bergman coaches the Warriors during the Kings Junior High Summer Camp/League on Tuesday, June 23. Contributed photo by Scott Hayes

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By Scott Hayes, Staff Writer 11:20 AM Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The month of June is saturated with basketball camps and leagues in southwest Ohio.

Kings High coaches Mike Stevens and Jake Grunkemeyer looked at the competitive markets and came up with an idea. Why not combine the two?

So, this week, Kings is hosting its first Junior High Camp/Summer League at Columbia Elementary School. Five teams from Kings, three from Mason and one from Lebanon went through a normal camp routine in the mornings. Then, after a lunch break, the teams play between 10 and 12 games in the afternoon. In all, between 80 and 85 junior high boys from the three schools were in attendance.

“Everybody’s camps are getting smaller. There are just so many opportunities out there,” Grunkemeyer said. “And there aren’t many junior high leagues. So, we thought a combination of the two might work.”

Lebanon varsity coach Pat Murphy thought it was a great idea.

“The bigger schools in our league — Beavercreek, Centerville, Wayne — play in junior high leagues, and if we want to compete, it’s something we need to start doing,” Murphy said.

When Lebanon Junior High coach Jeff Bergman was presented the opportunity by Murphy, he jumped at it.

“Wow, this is just great,” Bergman said. “It’s close in proximity, the kids get good instruction and then they get to compete together and put it all together in game situations.

“It’s good for the players to get to used to hearing my voice and understand what I want and expect from them. It’s a great experience and a head start on next season.”

Former Kings players Matt Stevens and Mark Byrd are on hand to coach the young Knights, as are current players Phil Fox and Jason Crull. Miami University’s Carl Richburg, a Mason graduate, is one of the coaches for the Comets.

“The kids are getting to compete school vs. school like they will in November,” Stevens said. “But, at the same time, they’re eating lunch together and making friends.

“The intensity is higher and the players are getting valuable experience in game situations. We hope it grows next year and we can include Loveland and Little Miami and make it a southern Warren County thing.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4526 or shayes@coxohio.com.

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