Challenge Camp! The ultimate training camp...

Aspire Higher Basketball concluded the 2012 summer with the invite only Challenge Camp. Our special guests this year were the top strength and conditioning coaches for the Lady Vols, Heather Macin and Collin Schlosser who came in to do a portion of the camp. Lets just say...the campers got a little taste of what real collegiate and professional basketball training is all about. During the two days of camp, the players worked on all aspects of the game from speed, agility, and strength, to skill and leadership development. They also received a notebook of court drills to take home, important keys to nutrition, ways to set and achieve goals, and more. Challenge camp is exactly as it sounds...a challenge. With an already extremely intense environment, we added a unique twist by making everything a competition. The camp was split into three teams and each player received a bandana they must wear at all times to signify which team they were on. Players received points for not only winning a drill or game, but for encouragement, leadership, constant communication, using their teammates names, being the hardest worker during a drill and more. I was so proud of all the campers and how they pushed through each drill while going their hardest to earn points for their teammates. Working for someone or something greater than yourself will take you past what you thought your limits were, farther than you ever thought possible. The players learned that every single second of training counts, every repetition, every extra push makes a difference! The camp would not have been the same without two of the top trainers there to help teach the importance of strength and conditioning. I had a blast working with Heather, Collin, and Alicia and all the incredible players! Looking forward to next summer's camps.

Below are a few pictures from Challenge Camp!!

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Pictures from Camp!

SOME PICS FROM CAMP:
Photography by Whitney Carter

Defense wins games! Coach Alicia and Josh working with the campers.

Teaching proper shooting form

2 Ball Ball Handling

Campers applying the skills they learned to live action!

Coach Alberta teaching the campers to stay low.

Teaching shooting drills

Each camper receives a notebook to take home.

I'd like to thank Aspire Higher's very talented photographer Whitney Carter for all her hard work! If you'd like to hire Whitney for an event please contact her at whitneymcarter1@gmail.com

2012 Camps

2012 VISION CAMP

So far camps have been incredible! I have worked with very talented players with great potential. Both Alicia and I have enjoyed teaching them what we have learned over the years playing for coach Summitt. The above picture is from our 6th-8th grade Vision Camp. We had an incredible turnout with players anxious to learn and have a good time. One of my favorite moments was when one player named Haley came up to me and told me she's going to beat my 3 point record and told me to "watch out." I told her she better start practicing! Another great moment was at our high school camp when one camper comes up to me drenched in sweat puts her arms up and turns saying I don't have a dry spot on me! It took me back to my first workout with Heather Macin at UT when I too looked at her exhausted telling her how I've never sweat so bad in my life! I love that I can pass down what it took to play at the collegiate level to younger players who have the aspirations to do the same. Each camp I get so excited to have fun with the girls and watching them improve has been so rewarding. Just being able to help equip each player with the drills and knowledge needed to become great in all aspects of life has been a blessing. Right now we only have one camp left but we're already planning for next summer!

Aspire Higher Begins!

Every summer growing up I always looked forward to going to camps. Whether it be church camp, basketball camp (NBC camp and Spokane Stars Camp), soccer camp, or even girls scouts, many of my childhood memories came from these summer camps. Not only did I make great memories, but it was at these camps that I was equipped with tools that lead me to a successful future on and off the court. The summer after I graduated in 2011 I played for the Chicago Sky until I injured my foot and was unfortunately released. I took some months off to heal before going to Israel (to play professionally) and began to put together  a camp that would give back to young athletes the way my camp coaches did when I was younger. I asked my college teammate Alicia Manning to help me and eventually, with the help of coaches, family, friends, and teammates, Aspire Higher Basketball Camps came to be. It has been quite the process and both Alicia and I have learned so much on how to put together the most successful and efficient camp. My dream is to build young women athletes up in confidence and skill through positive encouragement and constructive teaching, while equipping them with the skills needed to become a great player and motivating them to be successful in all areas of life. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to invest in these young athletes lives and basically take everything I have learned from coaches, such as legendary coach Summitt and many many others, and give that back to each camper involved with Aspire Higher. On this blog I will keep you updated with Aspire Higher Camps during the summer and my experiences overseas during the year!

Aspire Higher Logo, created by Katie Anderson

I'd like to thank Aspire Higher's logo designer Katie Anderson! If you'd like to hire Katie for logo design please contact her at katieandersondesign@gmail.com

Sponsors and Donors

PROUD SPONSORS AND DONORS OF

ASPIRE HIGHER BASKETBALL 

2012

 

DONORS:

Shirley O. Cox, Larry C. Kelly, 

Richard Macon, Chris Combs,

Steve Jones, Randolph Ferguson

Wesley Hines, C.W. and Gale Stanley

Sherry Browder, Rebecca Freeman,

Donald and Christine Combs

Robert and Dorothy Bryson

Aspire Higher Basketball would not have been made possible without the generous sponsors and donors for the 2012 summer. We cannot thank them enough for investing in these young athletes lives by giving money to subside for the cost of t-shirts, equipment, gym, advertisements and more. Donations were also given to sponsor a number of campers. We hope that they continue to invest in Aspire Higher's future endeavors!