(Huntsville, Ontario) – Olympia Sports Camp is excited to introduce a unique opportunity for tall basketball players across Canada in the form of its Big Man/Tall Lady camp. The two camps will run separately with the Tall Lady camp running from July 24 – 30 and the Big Man camp on August 21 – 27 in Huntsville, Ontario. Olympia has over 35 years of sports experience and a rich history of basketball development, making it a natural fit for Canada Basketball to endorse the Big Man and Tall Lady camps.
Olympia, in association with Ontario Basketball and Canada Basketball, has developed an exclusive curriculum to develop boys and girls at a critical stage of their growth. The camp is targeted towards girls who are 13-17 and are taller than 5’11”. On the other side, the camp is targeted for boys aged 14-17, who are 6’5” or taller.
These camps are the premiere development opportunities for today’s bigger athletes. With the help of experienced coaches, athletes will learn how to dominate the boards, outlet the ball with precision, score from the post and perimeter, manage the ball in open court and play great help and recover defence.
The developing Big Man/Tall Lady is often late in skill and athletic development. Following curriculum developed by Canada Basketball, Olympia will bring everything back to the basics and focus on a high degree of skill development, which is essential during these formative years. The coaches are experienced and willing to be patient in order to build confidence with the players to give them a chance to develop. The camp will use video extensively for self-analysis and "best practices."
An example of a “big man”, who blossomed late in his career, is 6’9” centre for the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team and Miami Heat (NBA), Joel Anthony. Anthony did not start playing basketball until the age of 16 and played sparingly at Dawson College in Quebec. His hard work eventually landed him at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas; where he would go on to win back-to-back conference Defensive Player of the Year honours. He was undrafted, but signed as a free agent with the NBA’s Miami Heat in 2007, where he currently plays today.
Players and coaches that Olympia has helped develop in the past consist of an impressive list including Leo Rautins and Jay Triano, who both participated in the first Olympia basketball camp in 1974. Other former and present National Team members who Olympia has trained include Sue Stewart, Nana Robinson, Jesse Young and several members from the Cadet and Junior Men’s Teams that won bronze at the 2010 U17 FIBA World Championships and the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.
The camp features an impressive lineup of coaches from across North America.
The global Big Man/Tall Lady camp is set for July 24 – 30 and August 21 – 27 in Huntsville, Ontario. Gene Banks, Assistant Coach of the Washington Wizards is one of the many coaches who will be on hand.
GENE BANKS
Director of Big Man Camp
- Banks is an Assistant Coach for the Washington Wizards and is responsible for their player development: power forwards and centres.
- He played in the NBA for San Antonio and Chicago and played professionally in Europe for over 10 seasons.
- He was an All-American at Duke University.
- He has been a special guest instructor with Olympia Sports Camp for over 25 years and understands today’s Big Man and knows how to develop their skills.
CAMERON HALL
Co-ordinator of Big Man/Tall Lady Program
- Hall played at Duke University and on Canada’s Olympic basketball team.
- He provides program leadership through properly blending the Olympia camp experience with Canada Basketball's athlete development models.
CHRISTINE STAPLETON
Director of Tall Lady Camp
- Stepleton won back-to-back CIS National Championships as a player with Laurentian.
- She was Head Coach of the CIS National Champions, University of Regina Cougars (2001).
- She was on the Canadian Women’s Junior National Team (2003 -2009) and National Elite Development Academy (2007-2009).
- Currently Associate Director of Athletics, University of Waterloo.
MISTIE BASS
Tall Lady Camp
- Bass graduated from Duke University in 2006, where she competed in two Final Four in 2003 & 2006.
- She was the 21st selected in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She spent time with the Houston Comets and has played the last two seasons with the Chicago sky.
- For the past 5 season, she has played professionally in Europe, with such teams as Jerusalem (Israel), Mersin (Turkey) and Raanana (Israel) during the WNBA off-season.
Along with this impressive group of coaches, Olympia Sports Camp also boasts an exceptional lineup of confirmed special guest coaches who will be present at various sessions throughout the summer, which includes John Wall, Andray Blatche, Trevor Booker and JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards. Also included in this year’s event are former New York Knick and Toronto Raptor, Charles Oakley and former assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors and current player scout for the New York Knicks, Walker D. Russell. These respected members of the basketball community bring global skills to the camp, which will make for a valuable player experience.
Special guest coaches that have visited the camp in the past include DeMar DeRozan, Sonny Weems and Alvin Williams of the Toronto Raptors, and former NBA greats Herb Williams, Steve Alford, and Rick Mahorn.
The camp will have a set itinerary for each day with an on-court emphasis for 5-6 hours per day.
- Individual movement: balance, strength and footwork.
- Scoring from the post, perimeter and in transition: form, footwork and power.
- Scoring (positioning and movement) in a 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 environment.
- Rebounding angles and intensity, plus delivering the outlet.
- Open court: passing, catching and dribbling at game speed.
- Defence: influence, close out, help and recover, block out, rebound.
- Scrimmages and game time.
Olympia Sports Camp will be hosting the Tall Lady camp on July 24–30 and the Big Man camp on Aug. 21–27 in Huntsville. For more information, please visit http://www.olympiasportscamp.com.