Travis Outlaw, an eight-year NBA veteran and product of Starkville High School, will host his second annual basketball camp June 28-30 at the Starkville SportsPlex.
The Elite Basketball Camp is open to kids ranging from grades sixth to 12th. Registration is $75. The event will run daily from 8 a.m. to noon.
Chris Outlaw, one of the event organizers, is hoping the camp attracts about 100 participants. It promises to teach the game — offense, defense, rebounding, passing and dribbling — from the perspective of one of the NBA”s veterans and offer a better understanding of the sport.
“We”re trying to help the youth here in Starkville, people that are very serious about basketball and want to become better players. We want to help them get to that point or that goal they set for themselves.” said Chris Outlaw, a cousin of Travis and his older brother, John, who has also played professional basketball. Both will serve as camp instructors. Other camp staff will include college and traveling basketball coaches, Chris Outlaw said.
Early registration is available until June 27. For more information, call (662) 617-5903.
“I hope this camp really shows that Travis really cares about the youth of Starkville,” Chris Outlaw said. “There”s not a lot for the youth to do out here. So I really want people to understand that he really cares about his community.”
Last August, he hosted the sixth annual “Travis Outlaw Day” at McKee Park, highlighted by a $20,000 donation to the Starkville Boys and Girls Club.
Outlaw has also hosted basketball clinics for children with asthma, which he has.
In 2003, Outlaw was selected by the Portland Trailblazers with the 23rd overall pick of the NBA Draft. Since then, the 6 foot, 9 inch forward has also played for the Los Angeles Clippers and New Jersey Nets, his current NBA home. Last season, Outlaw averaged a career-high 28.8 minutes per game. He also averaged 9.2 points and four rebounds per game.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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