Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 4 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC

Posted by Anonymous | Thursday, July 28, 2011 | Category: , , , | 0 comments

On day 4 of the Nike/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC players continued to work hard in their stations as well as their Living By Numbers. Coaches emphasized that they must keep on working hard on these drills in order to succeed outside of camp. All of the ballhandling, perimeter moves, defense, and shooting techniques at camp are designed to help our players work on form, as well as mock game-like conditions and situations. Our goal is to allow players to interpret and execute proper technique, while having to also focus on all of the other aspects of the game simultaneously. These aspects range from defenders, to speed, to time, and to the pressure that comes while playing in an actual game. We want to make the pressure in practices and trainings are as difficult as possible so that games can be a breeze.
If the players are truly devoting all of their effort to getting one percent better each day, like they promised to at the beginning of camp, then they will definitely see the improvement.
Campers have done a great job this week and the coaches cannot wait to see what will come next during "Championship Friday!" Everybody has high hopes of a positive outcome.

Day 3 pictures at Nike Elite Hoops Basketball Camp at CPA

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments







Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Day 3 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC

Posted by Anonymous | Wednesday, July 27, 2011 | Category: | 0 comments

On day 3 of the Nike/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC, coaches stressed the importance of practicing under pressure. When playing in games, players are hit with ten times the amount of pressure than they're hit with during practice. Between parents, coaches, friends, and fans the pressure to succeed during a game is almost unbearable. So it is easy for players to want to feel cool and collected in non-pressured situations such as practices. In practice, it is you, your coach and your teammates. Practically zero pressure. Consequently many players do not do as well in their games because of the lack of pressure put forth during practices. To help players in this category of the game, coaches introduced a couple of pressure layup and shooting drills today during Living By Numbers and morning stations.

The first drill, Trailblazer One on One, was introduced during our Rebounding/Fastbreak Station. This drill has two competing players-one on offense and one on defense-that start under the basket on the baseline. The offensive player, who is holding the basketball, dribbles towards and around a cone positioned at the three point line and then shoots a layup. At the same time, the defensive player sprints towards and around a separate cone placed between the three point line and halfcourt. The defenders goal is to block the offensive player's shot. The offensive player must either score or get fouled to get the point. The drill puts both players in a pressured shooting environment that players will more than likely find themselves in during the games.
The other drills were, again, introduced during our Living By Numbers, these drills are known as Cone Layups and Cone Jumpers. A lot like shooting under pressure, these drills have players up against the clock rather than up against other players. They have 45 seconds to make as many shots as possible and try to beat past records.
Pressured situations are a prime focus for many coaches and it is good for players to learn them here at camp in order to succeed in the future with other coaches.

Day 2 at Nike Elite Camp in Nashville at CPA

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments

Hunter Vick breaks the Flip Flop record at 92!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Day 2 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC

Posted by Anonymous | Tuesday, July 26, 2011 | Category: , , , , | 0 comments

On day 2 at the Nike/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC, coaches focused on emphasizing how important ballhandling skills are in young players. The more that ballhandling is practiced the more likely players are to get better at the various drills. During our Living By Numbers drills today, players were given five drills to work on in the off-season to not only get better, but to also get more comfortable and, therefore, allow their skills to broaden. Hand speed and hand quickness is a key focus when dealing with the ball. The five drills are known as Figure 8, Figure 8 with dribble, Flip Flop, Front Back Bounce, and Front Back Catch.
Every one of the players participated in the Living By Numbers ballhandling skills putting forth a great effort, and straining to beat the records hanging on the wall. Although nobody beat any records today, it was tremendous to see each player working their hardest under the pressure from teammates, and the clock. Each player was able to receive their own personal best record and that is exactly what coaches are looking for. The hard work and determination that players showed today is exactly what we are looking for in all Elite Hoops players, it is also what coaches in the future will be looking for. If the players can keep up with this hard work then they stand a good chance of making whatever team they try out for in the Fall.

Nike Elite Hoops Basketball Boys Camp In Nashville,TN Day 1

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments

Day 1 was a fantastic day for over 100 campers at the Nike Elite Skills Basketball Camp at CPA in Nashville, TN. Here are some photos from station work on Day 1.





Day 1 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at GAC

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: , , , , | 0 comments

Today was the first day of the Nike/Elite Hoops Coed Elite Basketball Camp at Greater Atlanta Christian. With a total of 54 campers signed up for the week to build upon their knowledge of basketball. Boys and girls are intermixed into groups based on age and skill level. Campers flew through stations this morning, and were taught by Camp Director, Lee Miller, to "never mistake activity for achievement." The coaches want to see if each camper can push themselves and try their very best every minute at every task. It was explained to them that though you are physically moving and performing an act it doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting any better, or reaching achievement status yet. By the end of stations, most of the campers were able to achieve the drill in front of them. Stations included drills from perimeter moves to team defense. Two fundamental skills that coaches emphasized greatly on today were ballhandling and proper layup form. Every camper has promised to become one percent better each day.
In the Ballhandling Station, players were taught stationary drills specifically to help them gain a comfortable feel for the basketball. Ballhandling is a fundamental skill in the game that cannot be overlooked early on.
In the Shooting Station, coaches went over the proper layup form known as the "Mikan Drill." This drill is an easy layup drill that focuses on technique and form. Players were to make sure to have their
"right hand, right knee in the air," when performing a right handed layup and the make to have their "left hand, left knee in the air," when performing their left handed layup. While beginner players are told to work on form more then speed normally, this camp has older, more elite players ranging from ages 12 to 16, making speed a priority to most of the players. This encourages them to develop quicker foot work in between layups.
We have a tremendous staff this week with college players and well known high school coaches from Atlanta. Coaches see high skill in this group and look forward to a successful week.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Nike Elite Skills Girls Camp Ends in Nashville, TN at CPA-Great Week!

Posted by Anonymous | Saturday, July 23, 2011 | Category: | 0 comments

The Nike Elite Skills Girls Camp in Nashville concluded yesterday at CPA. It was a fantastic week as there were numerous records broken, girls that were pushed to get better, and ton of fun had by all those involved. Championship Friday ended the week as the following girls were honored for their performances:

Mikan
Claire Wilson-HS
Mary Caroline Hayles- College
Savannah LeGate- WNBA (RECORD-17)

Figure 8
Sarah Davis- HS
Chloe Moore- College
Nayia Holmes- WNBA (RECORD-29)

Cone Layups
Ava Maddux-HS
Micah Skinner, Emma Maddux- College
Jayna Ferrell- WNBA (Record- 9)

Hot Shot
Claire Wilson- HS
Emily Allen- College
Savannah LeGate- WNBA

Coaches Awards
Charitee Groves- HS
Cate Goodrum- College
Grace Dishman- WNBA

Most Outstanding Players
Claire Wilson- HS
Mary Caroline Hayles- College
Jayda Dunn- WNBA

We look forward to returning next year to the campus of CPA in Nashville for another sold-out girls camp. On behalf of all of us at Nike Elite Hoops Basketball, thank you to all the campers, parents, and coaches that were involved in making this a special week!

Day 5 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse


Championship Friday was exciting for campers and full of basketball! Players started their morning of with 5 of their 10 stations, where they reviewed what they had been taught all week long. After stations, championship activities began! Players competed in their Living By Number Championships. Below is a list of the drills that players competed in and the champions in each division:


MIKAN DRILL
High School-Cameron Lyons (7)
College-Chris Porter (11)
NBA-Ronald McCloud (18)


FIGURE 8
High School-Cameron Lyons (23)
College-Bruce Oglesby (25.5)
NBA-Rayshad Cooper (24.5)


CONE JUMPERS
High School-Deangelo Hines (3)
College-Isaiah Burns (4)
NBA-Rayshad Cooper (6)


HOT SHOTS
High School-Cameron Lyons (34)
College-Brady Hamill (43)
NBA-Montana Mobley (35)

Congratulations to all of our LIVING BY NUMBERS CHAMPIONS!

After our Living by Numbers Championships, all leagues participated in a championship game on the main court, with parents, other players, and coaches watching! All the games were exciting to the very end! At the award ceremony following the championship games, some players received NIKE bookbags, NIKE sweatshirts, and NIKE t-shirts for all of their hard work! To find out who won the Most Complete Player and Coaches Award, in each division visit www.facebook.com/elitehoops.

Day 5 of the NIKE Basketball Camp at Homewood HS:Championship Friday

Posted by Lee Miller | | Category: , , | 0 comments



Championship Friday at Homewood High School was exciting for campers and full of basketball! Players started their morning off going through their Skill Development Stations, where they reviewed what they had been taught all week long. After stations, Championship activities began! The Top 3 Living by Numbers scorers from each division competed in the Mikan, Figure 8, Cone Layups and Hot Shot Championships. Below is a list of the champions in each division and their scores:

MIKAN DRILL
SEC-Thomas Bugg-11
ACC-Will Hodges-14
NBA-Darren Galvin-13

FIGURE 8
SEC-Thomas Bugg-27
ACC-Remington Patterson-30.5
NBA-Malik Garth-31

CONE LAYUPS
SEC-Zach Shunnarah-9
ACC-Hunter Vick-9
NBA-Austin Patterson-9

HOT SHOTS
SEC-John Nall-35
ACC-Jace Johnson-30
NBA-Tommy Donaldson-44

Congratulations to all of our LIVING BY NUMBERS CHAMPIONS!

After our Living by Numbers Championships, all leagues participated in a championship game on the main court, with parents, other players, and coaches watching! All the games were exciting to the very end.

At the award ceremony following the championship games, some players received NIKE bookbags, NIKE sweatshirts, and NIKE t-shirts for all of their hard work! To find out who won the Most Valuable Player, Coaches Award, and Hustle Award, visit www.facebook.com/elitehoops. Keep in mind that all Living by Number scores from camp will be posted on www.elitehoopsbasketball.com by Monday so make sure to download your scores!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Day 4 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp at Homewood High School

Posted by Lee Miller | Thursday, July 21, 2011 | Category: | 0 comments

Some people believe you can go in the gym, work on the same shots over and over, and come out a better shooter…WRONG. You become a better player when you challenge yourself to become better than you already are. You shouldn’t be content when your athletic ability hits a plateau. Sure it occurs naturally, but well-rounded athletes should expect a climbing slope throughout the years that they play. The way to continue on this slope of success is to train yourself harder and stronger each and every time you hit the court, the weights, or the track.


Day 4’s quote was “don’t train at the level you’re at, train at the level you want to be.” Every coach here at NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp sees a unique potential in every player that walks through our doors. But we also see what it takes for those players to reach that potential: the willingness to exert hours of blood, sweat, and tears- nothing less. Signs of improvement occur when players test their body’s ability to elevate its level of play, endurance, speed, and decision making on a higher level than they are on.


Our basic “block-out” drill gives our campers opportunities to defensive maneuver themselves around guys bigger than themselves. In this drill, 2 players are set up under the basket. A coach throws up a shot, hoping to miss in order to give the players a chance to rebound. The players then use their legs and body to place themselves closer to the basket, with their opponent behind them. When choosing a partner, the players should automatically choose someone bigger and better than them for an ultimate challenge. This will demand more from their body’s ability, essentially training them on a higher level. This quote can take on a business-like perspective. When applying for a job, a person “shouldn’t dress for the job he/she has, but instead, dress for the job he/she wants.” Understanding the underlying meaning to today’s quote will help players in all area of life, not just on the basketball court.

Day 4 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: , , , | 0 comments

On day 4 of Nike Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse warm ups started strong and players worked hard as they went through the motions of stations, five on five and then the Coaches Shootout. Although a fun day, coaches focused on stressing just how important the lessons learned this week will be to their basketball future. Players need to focus on making the trainings as hard as possible, so that games are as easy as possible. It is so important that players "never mistake activity for achievement" and to keep working hard during the off season. If players solely devote themselves to getting better and better every day they will be able to see the daily 1% percent improvement. Going half speed is never an option in this game, players have to remember this.
Another strong point coaches emphasized today was sportsmanship. Coaches work very hard to incorporate this into the Nike/Elite Hoops environment and with Champion Friday so near it is important that players remember it. It is not uncommon to see players shaking each others hands, congratulating their teammates, and even the players on other teams. Even on "Championship Friday" teams must go and shake hands after their games. Players that show good sportsmanship during practice and training sessions are the players that coaches will want on their team. Remember, "it's amazing how much can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit."
These player's skill level has improved so dramatically in the past four days that coaches are very excited to see what is in store for tomorrow as "Championship Friday" draws closer. Players are excited for the games as well as they talk amongst themselves about which team will come through with the win and which teammates will go home with some prizes!

Day 3 Nike Elite Skills Girls Camp in Nashville,TN at CPA

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments

We had a great day on Wednesday at the Nike Elite Skills Girls Camp. Numerous records were broken. Check out this video of some special performances in the individual improvement time.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Day 3 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp at Homewood High School

Posted by Anonymous | Wednesday, July 20, 2011 | Category: | 0 comments

Another long day has come and gone. Day 3 at Homewood High School brought great improvement as the kids seeked to get better in each and every drill. The campers completed stations after check-in and then made their way to the Living By Numbers drill after lunch. Today's Living By Numbers excersises included Cone Layups, Cone Jumpers, and Xbox, each requiring great skill and quickness. As the campers pushed through our intense workouts, camp director, Lee Miller repeated the quote of the day: "you become your habits in pressure situations." While practicing on the court, one should always remember the correct technique in every drill they work on. Our basketball camps help players to break down the fundamentals to make sure every area of the players game is precise in regards to their technique, while applying pressure at the same time.
 There are 3 ways you can apply pressure: (1) with defense (2) with the clock (3) with reps. Although 2 out of the 3 is considered good training, 3 out of the 3 is best because it combines every scenario you will face during a game.A "2 out of 3" example would be if you are shooting jump shots during practice, don't just set a goal of 15 baskets. Instead, set a goal of 15 baskets with a time limit. The pressure of making all 15 shots with the pressure of the ticking clock will help you prepare yourself for game-like situtations. The picture located in the top right corner demonstrates another form of the "2 out of 3" pressure types. As the camper drives towards to basket to gain shooting reps, Coach Miller stands tall with hands high to apply defensive pressure. With this kind of pressure, the offensive player should have no trouble driving around the defender and straight to the basket during a game. But remember, as you train yourself for the game, it is important to create good habits. We believe that you play as well as you train, so it is important to create GOOD habits during practice, so when you hit the court for an actual game, those GOOD habits become natural under pressure, allowing you to defeat your competitor.

Day 3 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: , , , | 0 comments

Today at NIKE Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse, coaches introduced the quote, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." In school, if you don't do your homework, or study for a test, you will more than likely fail that class or that test. If you do not practice for a try out, you will most likely not make the team. There are so many factors to consider when preparing yourself for anything, so you need to do it right. Coaches emphasized the significance of this quote by focusing on what players need to do in order to prepare for a game. The preparation coaches practiced with today is pressure. Players don't normally practice under the conditions that are going to be prevalent during a game. They don't have the roar of the crowds, or the shrill of the coach in their ear. They really don't even have an opponent most of the time. In result, most players cannot perform as well in games as they can in practice. In order to help players avoid this, coaches introduced a few pressure drills during Living By Numbers and stations. 

The drill "Trailblazer One on One" is introduced during the Rebounding Station. This drill has one offensive player and one defensive player. They start on the baseline under the basket, one at the three point line and the other three feet in further. The offensive player sprint dribbles towards a cone, goes around it while on the three point line and then sprints towards the basket to shoot a layup. Meanwhile, the defensive player sprints around a cone next to the offensive player's cone. While a bit behind the offensive players the defender attempts to block the shot. The offensive player must either shoot or get fouled in order to get a point. This drill imitates a pressured shooting situation that most players will find themselves in during a game.
The two drills introduced in Living By Numbers are the "Cone Layups" and the "Cone Jumpers." Instead of up against a defender, though, as most players normally are, during these drills players are against the clock. This could pose as the last few seconds during a game when a shot needs to be made to win or tie a game. Two cones are placed about four yards away from the baseline in opposite diagonal directions. During cone jumpers players must sprint towards the cones, go around them, and then shoot from that cone. While during the cone layups, players must sprint towards the cones, go around them, and then sprint back towards the basket to make a layup. The player's objective is to make as many shots as possible in the 45 seconds that they have.
These drills are good ways for players to train properly in the off season. Though seemingly simple these drills are fundamental keys to a game and must be taken seriously in order to become a serious player.

Day 2- Nashville,TN Girls Camp at CPA

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments

We had a great day in Nashville as 95 girls worked really hard to make themselves 1% better. The thought for the day was-"If you are not making a mistake, you are not getting better." The girls really worked hard in their station work, games, and living by numbers sessions to do just that- push to the point that I get better because I am out of my comfort zone. We had 3 more records broken as 4th Grader Chloe Moore broke the Figure 8 Dribble (15) and Front Back Bounce record with 70. Nayia Holmes broke another record with 29 on the Figure 8- both of these records are phenomenal and only surpassed by how special these 2 girls are. We are excited about Day 3 and whats ahead during our league games and cut throat times to see the girls level of improvement.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Day 2 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse

Posted by Anonymous | Tuesday, July 19, 2011 | Category: , , , , | 0 comments

On day 2 today at Nike/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse the quote of the day is "Hard work brings prosperty." It is encouraged by the coaches to work and play hard on and off the court in order to one day achieve their goals, and to keep growing in the process. You will not grow and become a better player without hard work, its impossible. Thats why coaches emphasize the importance of the fundamentals, they are like the base of basketball... You need to have something to grow and expand upon.
One vital fundamental is ballhandling. No matter what your position is on the court, you must be able to control, and maintain control of, a basketball. Coaches stress on the importance of developing good ballhandling skills throughout the whole week, but today specifically. This is because our  Living by Numbers drills of the day are all based around ballhandling. Players were given five different drills known as the Figure 8 without dribble, Figure 8 with dribble, flip flop, front back bounce, and front back catch.
Each and every player competing in these drills has the hope of beating the record hanging on the wall of the gym. There were no records beaten today, but tomorrow, next week and next summer still hold potential for these young players. As long as they keep working hard on these drills, they will eventually prosper. If these young players can keep up the hard work they will, one day, be the players that coaches are seeking.

Nike Elite Hoops Basketball Girls Camp In Nashville,TN Day 1

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments

We are off to a great start to the week here in Nashville,TN on the campus of Christ Presbyterian Academy to the Nike Elite Hoops Basketball Girls Camp. Day 1 featured almost 100 girls wanting to be pushed and motivated to improve 1% more as a player before they came to camp yesterday morning. The thought for the day was taken from legendary coach Don Meyer and it simply was 4 words- "PICK UP THE TRASH." Basically, stating to leave the group, the team you play on, the class you are in, or whatever the situation is better than the way you found it- these girls did just that as they encouraged total strangers, loved each other well, and showed great enthusiasm for the game of basketball and others. We are excited to see what the week has in store as there are some really good players here- in fact, 2 record were broken and we will post footage and and pictures later when we capture it on video on Tuesday.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Day 1 of NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp at Homewood High School

Posted by Anonymous | Monday, July 18, 2011 | Category: , , , | 0 comments

We're back in Homewood, Alabama for yet another round of NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp, except this time we are at Homewood High School! On Day 1, new faces arrived at check in bright and early, and the coaches could tell the players were eager to work hard and get better. Monday emphasized refining the players' weaknesses. Whether it is ball handling, reading the defense, or something as simple as communication, the slightest improvement makes it that harder for your opponent to beat you. Our camp director, Coach Lee Miller, stressed the importance of training "1 times your strength to 2 times your weakness." Let's say dribbling with your left hand is a struggle for you and dribbling with your right hand is a breeze. If you work 10 minutes on right-handed ball handling (strength), then you should work 20 minutes on your left-handed ball handling (weakness). Sure it is great to be dominant in one area of the game; however, players that are consistenly dominant in ALL areas of the game outlast their opponent in any situation they face on the court.

Throughout the day, campers worked on various ball handling drills that forced them to work on their weaknesses. Although a hassle at first, each camper soon learned the importance of sharpening the dull components of their game. After lunch, the players were teamed together for a little 5 on 5 competition. It was during this competition that players valued the statement that Coach Miller said to them earlier in the day. Campers were able to understand the advantage of being a consistent dribbler with both hands, as opposed to only one, and exactly why our coaches here at NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp aim to erase any weaknesses our players might have. As the first day came to a close, head coach at Homewood High School, Tim Shepler reminded the players that "it is the average player that goes to the gym and works on their 'favorite' shot or whatever feels natural to them, but it is the champion that pushes themselves outside of their comfort zone because our strengths grow from what once were our weaknesses."

Day 1 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: | 0 comments

"Do not mistake activity for achievement." One of the many quotes we share with campers here at Nike/Elite Hoops Basketball camps, this quote emphasizes to them that just because they are shooting at the basket, or dribbling down the court does not necessarily mean that they are achieving anything, but instead, simply acting upon a drill. In order to achieve, to get one percent better each day here at camp players "must not mistake" the act of doing a drill with achieving the drill. You must work at it every day and not only at camp, but at home as well. Day 1 of the NIKE Boys Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse welcomed eager campers to concentrate on the improvement of their individual skills, this improvement is mainly focused on during the morning stations. Stations include a diverse set of skills ranging from proper lay up forms in the shooting station to basic blockout drills in the rebounding station. Stationary drills and the proper defensive stance were two fundamental skills that coaches focused primarily on today.

During the ballhandling station players were taught a variety of different stationary drills, some known as the ball slap, corkscrew, and crossover. These are primarily to get the players comfortable with the ball, so that during a game they feel more in control. Players are encouraged to perform each of these drills as fast as they possibly can to prepare for our Living By Numbers competitions done throughout the week.

The drill that expands on the proper defensive stance is known as the "Big Step Drill." The Big Step Drill is a simple directional drill that focuses on how to effectively defend an opponent. Players were to make sure to have their feet shoulder width apart with their knees bent, and their back straight. One hand should be hitting up on the ball, while their other hand "wiping" the passing lane. Their feet should be staggered to the side as they force the player in the direction they want, and while sliding, they should never touch, this is known as the "Big Step, slide."

Players applied the skills that they learned in their stations to their 5 on 5 and 3 on 3 games. Throughout the week coaches will expand on each drill day by day while player's skills expand as well. Our main focus here is to help players improve by one percent each day.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Day 5 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Brown County High School

Posted by Chris Langley | Saturday, July 16, 2011 | Category: , | 0 comments

Championship Friday was exciting for campers and full of basketball! Players started their morning of with 5 of their 10 stations, where they reviewed what they had been taught all week long. After stations, players competed in their semi-finals games of their 5 on 5 leagues. After the semi-finals games, Championship activities began! Players competed in their Living By Number Championships. Below is a list of the drills that players competed in and the champions in each division:


MIKAN DRILL
High School-MIcah Drane (8)
College-Blake Bastin (14)
NBA-Collin Hoskins (17)


FIGURE 8
High School-Luke LaFevor (20.5)
College-Logan Brewer (23)
NBA-Ryan Coble (30)


CONE JUMPERS
High School-Luke LaFevor (2)
College-Dawson Hood (4)
NBA-Evan Markley (4)


HOT SHOTS
High School-Luke LaFevor (27)
College-Jordan Hovious (29)
NBA-Evan Markley (54)

Congratulations to all of our LIVING BY NUMBERS CHAMPIONS!

After our Living by Numbers Championships, all leagues participated in a championship game on the main court, with parents, other players, and coaches watching! All the games were exciting to the very end! At the award ceremony following the championship games, some players received NIKE bookbags, NIKE sweatshirts, and NIKE t-shirts for all of their hard work! To find out who won the Most Complete Player, Hustle Award, Defense Award, Coaches Award, and Eagle Award, visit www.facebook.com/elitehoops.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Day 5 of the NIKE Basketball Camp at Blessed Trinity: Championship Friday

Posted by Lee Miller | Friday, July 15, 2011 | Category: , , | 0 comments


Championship Friday at Blessed Trinity High School was exciting for campers and full of basketball! Players started their morning off going through their Skill Development Stations, where they reviewed what they had been taught all week long. After stations, players competed in their semi-finals games of their 5 on 5 leagues. After the semi-finals games, Championship activities began! Players competed in their Living By Number Championships. Below is a list of the drills that players competed in and the champions in each division and their scores:

MIKAN DRILL
HS-Bryce Adams-8
College-Andrew Scorcz-13
NBA-Grigsby Wilkie-18

FIGURE 8
HS-Ryan Kennedy-26
College-Andrew Scorcz-27
NBA-Cooper Schott-30

CONE LAYUPS
HS-Bryce Adams-6
College-Drew Hamrock-8
NBA-Matt Marin-10 (New NIKE Camp Record)

HOT SHOTS
HS-Jack Parson-32
College-Shaun McDonough-36
NBA-Griffin Michael-40

Congratulations to all of our LIVING BY NUMBERS CHAMPIONS!

After our Living by Numbers Championships, all leagues participated in a championship game on the main court, with parents, other players, and coaches watching! All the games were exciting to the very end especially in the High School Division where Jake Puckett hit a game winning 15 footer to win it. 

At the award ceremony following the championship games, some players received NIKE bookbags, NIKE sweatshirts, and NIKE t-shirts for all of their hard work! To find out who won the Most Valuable Player, Coaches Award, and Hustle Award, visit www.facebook.com/elitehoops. Keep in mind that all Living by Number scores form camp will be posted on www.elitehoopsbasketball.com by Monday so make sure to download your scores!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Day 4 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Brown County High School

Posted by Chris Langley | Thursday, July 14, 2011 | Category: , | 0 comments

On day 4 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Brown County High School, players continued to work on fundamental skills, highlighted by our final day of "Cut Throat" 3 on 3. With rules that force players to become better communicators and more fundamentally sound teammates, our goal with these 3 on 3 sessions is to make sure that players are ready for a higher level of basketball come this fall. Players showed great improvement throughout the week, as they followed our strict 3 on 3 rules! Hopefully, players will continue to develop these skills throughout the summer. Check out some 3 on 3 action below!






Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Day 3 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Brown County High Schools

Posted by Chris Langley | Wednesday, July 13, 2011 | Category: , | 0 comments

On day 3 of NIKE Boys Basketball Camp at Brown County High School, coaches emphasized the importance of practicing with pressure! Players typically don't practice or train at the same speed and under the same pressure situations as they are expected to play games under. Consequently many players, do not do as well during games as they do when practicing. To help players with this aspect of their game, coaches introduced a couple of pressure layup and shooting drills.

The first drill was introduced in the fastbreak station. Trailblazer 1 on 1, has 2 competing players, one on offense and one on defense, starting on the baseline underneath the basket. The offensive player, with the basketball, dribbles up and around a cone which is positioned around the three point line and heads to the basket to shoot a layup. Simultaneously, the defensive players sprints around a cone placed midway between halfcourt and the three point line. Trailing the offensive player, the defender is trying to get a blocked shot. The offensive player must score or get fouled! This drill creates a pressure shooting situation that most players find themselves in during games. Below is a video of some of our High School Division players as they work hard in the Trailblazer 1 on 1 drill!

Trailblazer 1 on 1

The second and third drills were introduced during our Living by Numbers. Cone layups and cone jumpers, follow the same premise of shooting under pressure, but instead of having to worry about a trailing defender, players are up against the clock as they try to make as many layups or jumpers in the 45 seconds! Below is a video of camper, Ryan Coble, competing in cone layups. Cone layups and cone jumpers are both great drills for improving shooting under pressure.

Cone Layups

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Day 2 of the NIKE Basketball Camp at Blessed Trinity High School

Posted by Lee Miller | Tuesday, July 12, 2011 | Category: , , | 0 comments

Each day at the NIKE/Elite Hoops Basketball Camps we preach to the players that practicing isn't enough.  In order for players to truly get better each day, they must not only practice, but they need to practice with pressure.  We hear stories from players all the time about how many hours they practice and yet that practice isn't turning them into a better player.  The reason why? Pressure.

When a player shoots a shot during a regular season game there is pressure to make that shot coming from numerous sources: their coach (who wants the score on that possession), their teammates (who want to win the game), their parents (they want their son/daughter to look good on the court), defense (who wants to block the shot) and lastly themselves (they don't want to fail).  It's not easy to hit a shot with that amount of pressure...unless you have dealt with it before-and MOST players haven't.

You can recreate game like pressure in practice or at home in 3 ways:
1. Have a defender guard you for the ballhandling/shooting drill
2. Have a clock time you
3. Set a number of makes/reps to perform

To make yourself a really strong player use two or more of these techniques together. In our Living by Numbers series that we perform daily at camp, players have 12 fundamental skill drills that they work on trying to get a certain number of reps/makes in a certain amount of time. By creating pressure for players in drills it makes practice more "game like." Thus, when a player gets into the game and has an opportunity to make a shot, dribble the full length of the court with a defender chasing them, etc. it is much easier for them to perform because they have done it before under pressure.

Today, at the NIKE/Elite Hoops Boys Basketball Camp at Blessed Trinity players performed 5 Ballhandling drills: Figure 8, Figure 8 Dribble, Flip Flop, Front/Back Bounce and Front/Back Catch.  Each player had 30 seconds to perform each drill and maximize their number of reps. We reminded them today that, "The more you sweat in peace the less you bleed in war." And based upon the effort today from our campers, they won't be bleeding in games nearly as much as they used to. To see the current Living by Number Record Holders click HERE.

Day 2 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Brown County High School

Posted by Chris Langley | | Category: , | 0 comments

On day 2 at NIKE/Elite Hoops Boys Basketball Camp at Brown County High School, coaches emphasized the importance of working hard to develop ballhandling skills. With the Living by Numbers drills today, players were given 5 drills to work on in the off-season to improve hand speed and hand quickness. The 5 drills were Figure 8 without a dribble, Figure 8 with a dribble, Flip Flop, Front Back Bounce, and Front Back Catch.

Every single player at camp competed in our Living by Numbers ballhandling drills in hopes of beating our camp records for each drill. Although, we had no one beat any of the records, it was great to see each player working hard and trying their very best to achieve a personal best for each drill! The hard work and determination that players showed today is exactly what coaches will be looking for when they are putting together teams in the fall, so if campers keep working this hard, they stand a pretty good chance of making whatever team they tryout for next season!

Check out the video of some of our campers working hard as they try to set new personal bests at their Living by Numbers Ballhandling drills! Great work guys!

FIGURE 8 NO-DRIBBLE:

FIGURE 8 DRIBBLE:

FLIP FLOP:

FRONT BACK BOUNCE:

FRONT BACK CATCH:

Monday, July 11, 2011

Day 1 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Brown County High School

Posted by Chris Langley | Monday, July 11, 2011 | Category: , | 0 comments

Day 1 of the First Annual NIKE Boys Basketball Camp at Brown County High School saw campers working hard to improve on individual skills in their morning stations. Stations included skills from perimeter moves to team defense. Two fundamental skill coaches emphasized more than others were rebounding and proper layup form.


Specifically, for rebounding players were taught that "when the ball goes up, hands go up." To make sure that players are always ready for a missed shot as it comes off the rim or the back board, players were taught to have their hands up as soon as they see a shooter release a shot. With their hands high they are almost ready for any type of missed shot.

The one drill highlighting this emphasis on fundamental layup form was the "Mikan Drill." The Mikan Drill is a simple layup drill that focuses on technique and proper layup form. Players were to make sure to have their "right hand, right knee in the air" on a right-handed layup and to make sure to have their "left hand, left knee in the air" on a left-handed layup. Beginning players were encouraged to work on form over speed, while more advanced players were pushed to develop quicker foot work in between layups.

Players worked hard to use these skills in their 5 on 5 and 3 on 3 games. We will continue to work on these techniques and other drills that will help to develop a well-rounded fundamental player. We are consistantly focused on improving players skills by 1% daily at camp!

Nike/Elite Hoops Basketball Camp at BT: Day One.

Posted by Anonymous | | Category: , , , | 0 comments

The line started to form outside the doors of Blessed Trinity High School at 8:00 in the morning as eager campers awaited registration. Nike/Elite Hoops Boys Basketball Camp at Blessed Trinity kicked off to a great start this morning as players were introduced to our quote of the day, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” This quote reenforces the importance of working hard everyday, and trying to be the best player that you can possibly be. Just because you are running down the court doesn’t mean you are progressing. You must be focus and attentive to all the aspects of the game in order to achieve anything, you must work for it. Fran Fraschilla once said, “If you’re the best player at your playground, you need to find another playground.” We like to have players focus on moving forward and to continue onto the next step at our camps. We want to have the players feel like big fish in a small pond when they play in our gyms. Competition is important not only to your team, but to yourself individually as well.
At Nike/Elite Hoops Basketball Camps we do the Living By Numbers competition. Each day we have a different set of skills that the players get timed in. Our coaches record the times and we enter them into the Living By Numbers database. As the summers progress we have more, and more times of kids that work hard over the years and eventually form and break the records. Our Living By Numbers banner hangs on the gym wall so that players can focus on what the record to beat is. As the week progresses each player works hard to become one percent better each day and have their own personal competition against the clock. Today, as the Living By Numbers skill set came to a close Colton Gray and Chris Turk expressed how much they enjoyed the “competitiveness of trying to beat the record.” 

Saturday, July 2, 2011

NIKE/Elite Hoops Camp Invades Hendersonville for the 1st Time!

Posted by Lee Miller | Saturday, July 2, 2011 | Category: , , , | 0 comments



What a fantastic week! I was so excited to come back to my "home"- Hendersonville,TN (just outside of Nashville)- to the outstanding facility at Hendersonville First Baptist Church (the church I grew up in) and lead the Nike Elite Skills Basketball Camp. For over 20 years, going back to the days that I was a high school player at Goodpasture High School and as a college player at Vanderbilt University, I always wanted to return to the place that I grew up to deliver a high level of instruction of the game of basketball to the young men in that community. Well, thanks to Lee Miller of Elite Hoops Basketball, Nike, and Jeff Lake and the staff at HFBC, that dream became a reality this week as 100 campers in a sold out capacity attended the inaugural Nike Elite Skills Camp in Hendersonville,TN. 

I knew we had a shot for this week to be special as I knew the All-Star staff we had to lead the boys in their stations and instruct them was at a high level. But, I had no idea that the level of passion and energy this group brought every day would drive the overall commitment of the campers to all new heights. There was phenomenal teaching and instruction happening all over the gym and outstanding dedication by the campers the entire week in every activity and every drill they were asked to perform. The consistency from Monday to Friday in the stations, games, and cut throat was the best I had seen from a staff and I can say that it drove each of our campers to improve 1% each day as we like to say at Elite Hoops Basketball.

With that being said, I want to highlight several noteworthy individual performances from this past week. The champions in each division of the Living By Numbers Competition were:
Mikan:
HS- Tyler Preston
College- Matthew Carroll
NBA- Zach Armour

Figure 8:
HS- Cooper Pennington
College- Matthew Carroll
NBA- Ethan Howard

Cone Lay-ups:
HS- Cooper Pennington
College- Joe Greenwood
NBA- Neil Shimer

Hot Shot:
HS- Tyler Preston
College- Max Barnett
NBA- Neil Shimer

Coaches Award:
HS- Austin Flynn
College- Eli Sullivan
NBA- Neil Shimer

Most Outstanding Player:
HS- Cooper Pennington
College- Justin McMurry
NBA- Spencer Smith

It was a great week and I think everyone is excited for us to return again next year as we have been asked to do not one but, two weeks of Nike Elite Skills Basketball Camp next year. Next stop for Elite Hoops is the Nike Girls Camp at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, TN on July 18. We close the summer out at CPA the following week for the Nike Boys Camp beginning on the 25th. 

Drew Maddux
Elite Hoops/NIKE Basketball Camps
Tennessee Director

Friday, July 1, 2011

Day 5 of NIKE Basketball Camp at Homewood Middle School: Championship Friday

Posted by Lee Miller | Friday, July 1, 2011 | Category: , , | 0 comments


Championship Friday at Homewood Middle School was exciting for campers and full of basketball! Players started their morning off going through their Skill Development Stations, where they reviewed what they had been taught all week long. After stations, players competed in their semi-finals games of their 5 on 5 leagues. After the semi-finals games, Championship activities began! Players competed in their Living By Number Championships. Below is a list of the drills that players competed in and the champions in each division and their scores:

MIKAN DRILL
SEC-Zoe Watts-11
ACC-Justin Byrd-13
NBA-Owen Ferguson-14

FIGURE 8
SEC-Garrett Cupp-27.5
ACC-Will Mizerany-29
NBA-Jordan Smith-35 (NEW NIKE Camp Record)

CONE LAYUPS
SEC-Alex Harris-8
ACC-Joey Compton-9
NBA-Eric Giles-8

HOT SHOTS
SEC-Mac Thomson-30
ACC-Luke Champion-38
NBA-Owen Ferguson-48

Congratulations to all of our LIVING BY NUMBERS CHAMPIONS!

After our Living by Numbers Championships, all leagues participated in a championship game on the main court, with parents, other players, and coaches watching! All the games were exciting to the very end! At the award ceremony following the championship games, some players received NIKE bookbags, NIKE sweatshirts, and NIKE t-shirts for all of their hard work! To find out who won the Most Valuable Player, Coaches Award, and Hustle Award, visit www.facebook.com/elitehoops.