NBC Camps founder and president, Fred Crowell shares in this video his passion for what you need this summer to become the best basketball player you can. Summer is the time to dramatically improve your basketball skills. NBC Camps is worth the investment you need to make if you want to be a basketball player. Check out what Fred Crowell has to say about reaching your dreams.

Sports Leadership Ministries, a 501 (c) (3) public charity in Spokane, WA, recently received a $5,000 corporate contribution from AXA Advisors, a financial consulting corporation. AXA helped sponsor a free basketball clinic in April at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, CA. The monies will also go towards summer camp scholarships for NBC Basketball Camps; specifically its sites at William Jessup University in June and Pacific Union College in July. These two NBC Camps sites are directed by Brett Lewis and Erik Carlson, and the camps are intended for boys and girls ages 8-18.

The clinic and camps will help fulfill the mission of Sports Leadership Ministries and impact the lives of many campers. SLM is designed to create unique opportunities to impact both the youth and adult world through the avenue of sports in a positive way. SLM believes that competitive athletics can teach important life lessons necessary for corporate and individual success. Even the poor student, the lazy worker, the disrespectful child, the gang member, suicidal behavior, drug addiction, and a host of other potential social problems can be successfully addressed through the avenue of sports.

For more information regarding corporate or individual contributions, please call SLM at (509) 232-6490 or email tellisward@nbccamps.com. For more information regarding the two camp sites, see www.nbccamps.com.

Coach T
Shout Out

Professional Advice

I can hardly believe that it's been nearly one year since I started as the new Director of Women's Basketball at NBC Camps. One awesome initiative underway is the formation of a Women's Basketball Advisory Board. This group of knowledgeable individuals will periodically provide useful basketball tips, encouragement and insight specifically meant for YOU! This month, I am ecstatic to unveil words of wisdom from a tremendous professional athlete --WNBA veteran & Gold Medal Olympian, Ruth Riley! Check out what she has to say...

What Coaches Look for in Great Players, by Ruth Riley

Looking back on my basketball journey I often wonder, what did college recruits really see in me? Growing up, I have always been tall, but quite honestly my coordination and skills came a lot later in life. I have always wondered, what made them pursue me when I knew that was so far from great? As I reflect on the different teams I have played on, from college, to the pros, to the Olympics here are a few thoughts I have about what coaches really look for and value in players.

When it comes to young players, coaches evaluate their immediate skill level: shooting, passing, decision-making, dribbling, etc. With the rare exceptions of players like Candace Parker, with remarkable skill level at a young age, coaches are more interested in POTENTIAL! It is not necessarily about the player they see you are, but rather the player they think they can help you become. You must keep in mind that potential can accomplish nothing on its own (We all have the potential for some form of greatness),the player must also be hard-working, and have a coachable attitude. Over the years I have seen many players with good skills and an amazing amount of potential become average players at best, because they didn't want to work on their game or they didn't respect what their coaches were telling them. I have just started my 8th year in the WNBA and I am still working to improve my game!

I am blessed to play everyday against the best basketball players in the world. If you look at every roster in the league, you will see the names of a couple players who definitely aren't the most talented players, but who work extremely hard, are constantly improving their game, and have a great attitude. If your dream is to play basketball in college or in the WNBA and you don't think you are good enough, don't be discouraged. My point-guard, Becky Hammon is a perfect example of someone who has overcome an unbelievable amount of adversity to be successful! At 5'6",people have said that she is too small, that she isn't quick enough, but she didn't let that stop her. She wasn't drafted in the WNBA, worked her way on a team, didn't play much for her first few years in the league, and is coming off an MVP type season last year!!

Greatness can be achieved by anyone who has the right attitude, is willing to be coachable, who works hard, and never stops believing in themselves!!

What valuable insight from Ruth! Remember to check out http://www.nbccamps.com/ often to hear more from the advisory board and don't forget to email me at tellisward@nbccamps.com anytime with questions or your own shout out!

Coach T
Director of Women's Basketball
& Whitworth Site Director
June

Congratulations to our four $1500 college scholarship recipients for 2008. A special thank you to all the applicants.


Rick James Ivan Haluszka
Rick Haluszka is the winner of Sports Leadership Ministries' OUTSTANDING BROTHER AWARD for the school year of 2008-2009. He attended Harlem High School and will be attending Montana State University with a major in Exercise Science/Kinesiology and Religion. Rick's favorite sport is football, but he also enjoys playing guitar, singing, playing video games, watching movies, lifting weights, and watching sporting events. Some of his favorite books are Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy, 3:16 by Max Lucado, and The Bible. He likes traveling to Glacier National Park and Seattle, Washington. Rick loves barbequing and eating anything with barbeque sauce on it! He says. "My family is my rock and I'm proud to know God!" Rick attended NBC Camps in Billings, MT and Spangle, WA. His favorite quote is: "Tis better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for who you are not."

Kelsey Ham
Kelsey Ham is the winner of Sports Leadership Ministries' AMAZING WOMAN AWARD for the school year of 2008-2009. She attended Bozeman High School and will be attending Williams College with a major in Biology and Spanish. Kelsey's favorite sport is basketball, but she also enjoys photography, biking, hiking, knitting, reading, skiing, and playing the piano. She loves to travel, especially to Italy and Spain. She attended NBC Camps in Billings, MT and Linfield, OR. Her favorite quote is: "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously without finding fault. But when he asks, he should not doubt, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind"(James 1:4-6).

Benjamin Allen
Benjamin Allen is the winner of Sports Leadership Ministries' GREAT MAN AWARD for the school year of 2008-2009. He attended Clearwater Valley High School and will be attending Boise State University with a major in political science. Benjamin's favorite sport is basketball, but he also enjoys football, tennis, golf, baseball, hunting, fishing, snowboarding, and coaching sports. He loves to go camping, surfing in Hawaii, and on vacations with his family. He attended NBC Camps in Nampa, ID; Auburn, WA; and Spangle, WA. Benjamin's favorite quote is: "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle --victorious" (Vince Lombardi, Fred Woods).

Rachael Estabrook
Rachael Estabrook is the winner of Sports Leadership Ministries' EXCELLENCE AWARD for the school year of 2008-2009. She attended Triad High School and will be attending Bethany University with a major in Sports Management. Rachael's favorite sport is basketball, but she also enjoys track, the violin, friends, fishing, reading, and playing foosball. She loves Italian food, Ghirardelli chocolate, laughing, and winning. She attended NBC Camps in Redding, CA; Newberg, OR; Spokane, WA; Spangle, WA, McMinnville, OR; and attended our International Tour in 2005. Rachael's favorite quote is: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24).