Parks, Rec plans annual basketball camp

When Russellville Parks and Recreation staff take a peek in the Rec Center and Mullins Center gyms during the summer, they know exactly what they’ll find – children passionate about the game of basketball. It’s those children the department has in mind when planning the annual Parks and Rec basketball camp.

“We have many children in our gyms each day playing basketball and trying to get better, so with offering this camp it gives them the chance to develop the skills they might not have known they had,” said Parks and Rec’s Carrie Dover.

The two-day camp will be offered July 13-14 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Russellville Rec Center. Daily instruction will be led by Sports Hall of Famer Rayfield Ragland.

“Ragland has done many private lessons for some of our high school basketball teams,” Dover explained, “so we thought, why not get an early start with some of the younger kids in Russellville?”

Ragland, according to the Lauderdale County Sports Hall of Fame website, was a star athlete at Coffee High School, earning all-state honors in football, basketball, baseball and track. In basketball, the career sport he ultimately pursued, his high school career included recognition as Coffee’s all-time leading scorer. He later played basketball for the Clemson Tigers and then the International Basketball Association.

The youth camp is open to both boys and girls 6-16. Cost is $35 per camper. Campers should bring basketball shoes and snack money if they want to make a purchase from the vending machines. Dover said breakfast and lunch will be served to campers each day.

Dover encouraged interested campers to sign up right away.

“Last year we had around 40-50 children, and we usually have about the same turn out every year – however, this year to ensure campers get the most one-on-one time with Ragland, we will only have 40 spots available for camp,” she said. “When the first 40 spots are filled, we will start with a back-up list, and if we have another 40 to sign up, we will host a second camp date.”

For more information call the Rec Center at 256-332-8770.