of bouncing basketballs as coach Freddie Evans conducted his fifth annual summer camp.

The mushrooming sport attracted some 200 Bermudian youths between the ages of 10 and 18 to an intensive five-day camp which, besides Evans, also brought together some acclaimed US basketball coaches.

Among the guests were Jim Clayton who works as a professional travelling coach with sports manufacturers Nike, Preston Thomas from Cardinal Ridder Prep School who has built a solid reputation for his ability to develop young players, and Lee MacElroy, athletic director at American University in Washington DC.

In addition, several Bermudian coaches and volunteers were on hand to help the camp run smoothly.

"I am tremendously proud of our growth and development,'' said Evans. "We have become a very good basketball camp with outstanding basketball players and it is my mission to maintain and promote this camp as we continue to bring to our shores some of the best basketball coaches available.'' The camp has run from 8.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m during which the young athletes have endured a packed day of activity.

After various routines including shooting, defensive moves, offensive moves, rebound stations, ball handling and passing, the youths have taken part in individual competition for trophy awards.

"Yesterday we had a one-on-one game, today we will have a three-point competition, and we also have hot-shot and free throw competitions,'' added Evans.

And the day is completed with team competitions like Fast Break League, Sudden Death and Five-on-Five League.

But there is more to gain from the camp than just the fundamentals of basketball. In one case it's helping a student receive a university education.

Eighteen-year-old Bermudian Winston Johnson has been offered a basketball scholarship at Tiffin University, Ohio, to train with Stephen Fleming, another of the visiting coaches.

"I want the campers to develop an understanding of the game of basketball, but more importantly I want them to have strong fundamentals in the game of life. In other words I want them to be students of the game and productive citizens,'' said Chicago-born Evans.

"We get students from all walks of life -- boys and girls, and one student with a disability. You won't see any of them fighting or arguing with each other. We are helping them with discipline, social skills and helping them to understand community circles as well.'' ON THE DEFENSIVE -- Joshua Nesbitt (left) and Jennifer Rhind (right) defend while Nicole Brunson (centre) tries to find a way to the basket during Freddie Evans' fifth annual basketball camp this week.