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Same face, new place: Ibrahim Baydoun brings annual youth basketball clinic to Star International Academy

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Same face, new place: Ibrahim Baydoun brings annual youth basketball clinic to Star International Academy

Star International boys’ varsity basketball head coach Ibrahim Baydoun, gray, breaks down a huddle to wrap up day three of a free youth basketball clinic at the local Dearborn Heights school on June 26, 2024. (MADISON HOOL — For MediaNews Group)

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — One would be hard-pressed to find a figure in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area more entrenched in the world of basketball than Ibrahim Baydoun.

The man the call “Juice” has made a consistent concerted effort to share his passion for the sport throughout his life. That includes an annual youth basketball clinic designed to teach and promote the game to the younger generation in the local area.

While it now has a new home, the traditions and goals of the week-long remain the same for Baydoun.

“It’s incredible, I truly enjoy it. It’s such a blessing to reach out to the kids and give back to the community. They bring back memories of a lifetime.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Day 3 of youth basketball clinic at Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights

Wednesday marked day three of Baydoun’s four-day basketball clinic at Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights. Each day of the clinic is split up into two sessions, one reserved for kids in grades 3-5 while the latter group houses grades 6-8.

Each session has about a dozen participants, each of whom get a free complementary T-shirt and basketball to take home.

Much like the trajectory of his own playing and coaching career, growth and development at Baydoun’s clinic is the central focus for the youngsters. It is what the veteran coach takes the most pride in for those three hours each day.

“It’s seeing the kids grow and develop,” Baydoun said. “Starting with the basics, they continue to improve and get better and better each day. And we have fun, we want to put smiles on the kids’ faces. That’s the blessing in disguise.”

Campers during their time each day with Baydoun work on several basketball skills. On display are the fundamentals like dribbling and shooting while also nailing down some of the more conditioning and footwork techniques.

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Star International Academy boys’ varsity basketball coach Ibrahim Baydoun cheers on kids during a 5-on-5 scrimmage to wrap up day three of a four-day youth basketball clinic in Dearborn Heights on June 26, 2024. (MADISON HOOL — For MediaNews Group)

As the week progresses, the practicing of the basics turn into contests, which Baydoun says the players have taken a real liking to over the years. It will result in hardware being handed out by the end of the camp on Thursday.

“I bought trophies for them,” Baydoun said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, I know they always look forward to that.”

Those series of drills eventually culminate in scrimmages between the participants. It starts with abbreviated 3-on-3 contests before building up to the more traditional 5-on-5 setting.

“We start with the basics on days one and two,” Baydoun said. “And then here on day three, we start doing things like working with two basketballs, things that are a little bit more challenging.

“That’s what we want to do is challenge the kids to get better each and every day.”

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