Under the Radar hoops camp set
Published 11:40 pm Friday, June 26, 2009
Any high school basketball fan around Suffolk knows that in many ways, the season never ends.
Even during the summer, there are numerous AAU teams and tournaments and summer leagues for the high school squads.
During the last couple of years, one more event has become an important part of the summer calendar, thanks in large part to the work of Suffolk native Chavez Mabry.
Mabry, who’s the head coach of Indian River’s boys’ basketball squad, is the director of basketball operations for the Under the Radar Exposure Camp. The camp, which is scheduled for July 11-12 at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton, is designed to give high school players an excellent chance to show their talents in front of college coaches.
Mabry and the president of the camp, Terence Green, invite college coaches ranging from NCAA Division I programs to junior colleges.
For the most part, collegiate staffs can’t get out to scout potential recruits during the season, which is why so many high school players also belong to AAU squads. The Under the Radar Exposure Camp attempts to take it one more step for the campers. The camp is specifically scheduled at a time that is perfect for college coaches who are on the recruiting trail.
In the past, many local and regional schools have been on hand, including Old Dominion, Hampton, Norfolk St., Mount St. Mary’s. Towson, North Carolina Central, Liberty, Virginia St., Mt. Olive, Barton, Christopher Newport, Chowan and Virginia Wesleyan.
Mabry and Green were out at King’s Fork High School on Thursday evening spreading the word about their camp to the players and coaches at the King’s Fork Summer League.
“Last year, we had over 30 coaches and all of them took somebody home,” said Green, who was a four-year letterman at Hampton University, has 12 years of football and basketball coaching experience, and is currently a teacher, an NCAA referee and a radio analyst.
ESPNU will be reporting on the camp, said Mabry.
“A lot of guys think if they’re playing AAU, they’re getting noticed, but it’s not always the case,” said Mabry.
“If you’re playing on one of Boo’s teams, maybe you don’t need this,” said Mabry. “But if not, you probably do.”
The camp already has a track record of success. Last year’s camp included King’s Fork’s Jamar Wertz, who just signed with Maryland-Baltimore County, Norcom’s Darius Theus, who’s headed to Virginia Commonwealth, Heritage’s Dimitri Batten, who’s going to ODU, and more players who are headed to the likes of Stony Brook, Southern, Virginia State and New Jersey Tech.
Players are encouraged to register as soon as possible to help the camp staff compile books for the visiting coaches, which will include names, heights, positions and other information of the campers.
The registration fee is $125 per camper through the end of June and $135 after that. The camp is open to rising ninth-12th graders.