NBC basketball camp coming to Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — NBC Sports Camps will host a week-long basketball camp in Fort St. John this July at North Peace Secondary School.

According to its website, NBC is an acronym standing for “Nothing Beats Commitment.” It says camps provided for basketball and volleyball provide a unique and exceptional experience, helping players achieve growth as both players and individuals.

According to camp organizer and Fort St. John Flight head coach Kristy Erickson, one of her motives in putting together a camp in the city came from the grassroots community within the town.

She says the nearest NBC camp until now was in Edmonton, which meant travel expenses had to be taken into account.

“It’s quite expensive for our northern kids to be able to experience an NBC camp,” said Erickson. “My dream has always been to be able to bring them here to Fort St. John,”

There’s a really bustling basketball community here, and just a great group of kids that I want to give an opportunity.”

The camp will be run by Ben Gilbert, one of NBC’s head coaches. Gilbert is based out of Calgary, and played with Mount Royal University.

He will be assisted by Erickson, along with Fort St. John’s Celine Quigley, and Mark Knoppers.

Erickson says being able to have Quigley, who played with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans is exciting.

“She’s had a fantastic collegiate career,” said Erickson. “It’s always exciting when someone from our hometown can make it to the next level, and now she’s coming back to coach.”

The kids will be taken through the fundamentals, including dribbling, passing, teamwork, and shooting, through the duration of the four-day camp.

There will be a morning session for boys and girls aged 8 to 12, with the afternoon sessions for youth aged 12 to 18.

To explain the overlap, Erickson says some 12-year-olds may have outgrown the size of their peers and can take the afternoon camp.

However, she recommends 12-year-olds with less experience try the morning session.

“I want these kids to come out and have a good time.”

The camp runs from July 2nd to 5th.

To register, click the link here. For more information, contact Erickson at (250) 793-2617.

Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca