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Jeff Rodgers, dean of basketball camps continues crafting legacy   By FRED STURRUP ~ NG Associate Editor ~ frederick@nasguard.com: I'm always impressed with Jeff Rodgers. He was a virtual unknown 22 years ago and many thought he was entirely out of his league when he announced his first camp. The expectation for him was failure. Two decades later, he is cemented as the dean of basketball camps not only in The Bahamas, but the whole Caribbean region. Several years ago, he expanded his camp focus into the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Jamaica. Success follows the man. What really makes the Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp stand out far beyond the others is the unique template. For sure, basketball is the top agenda item. However, Rodgers and his instructors (many of them seasoned veterans or past stars of the National Basketball Association) concentrate annually on being mentors for the young participants in a wholesome way. It's not just about basketball at Rodgers' camp. There is a heavy concentration on molding healthy minds and decent and Christian attitudes, combined with the teaching of basketball skills. A large number of young professional men and a good bit of women in our society today, are former Rodgers campers. Parents, especially the maternal ones, look forward to the Rodgers Camp equally as much as their beloved young ones. They appreciate the wholesome environment at the Bahamas Academy Gym on Wulff Road. The young ones are brought in line with the unique culture of the camp from the very outset. The regulations are not severe but the general approach taken by the coaches is no-nonsense. The campers get to play with the ball a lot, of course. Skills are passed on from some of the best performers the world over. Everything points toward 'Fun Night' when the youngsters get the opportunity to show off their court prowess to their parents and guardians. The Rodgers' camp is indeed a signature happening in the country and annually attracts noted names like Byron Scott of the Magic Johnson-Los Angeles Lakers fame, Scott Burrell, Chris Paul, Mark Jackson and the inimitable Tyrone 'Muggsy' Bogues. Rodgers says he just continues to count his blessings. "I just feel blessed. We have come a long way from our humble start. I'm thankful to God and so many others, like the key sponsors who have stuck with me and included funds for the camp in the budget year after year. Then, there is that NBA fraternity. I know they make a sacrifice to come here, but, they do and for some of them, being here for the camp has become a tradition. "We are proud to have an event, parents vouch for. Their collective endorsement, as much as anything else has enabled us to push on every year. There are also the local coaches who work very hard along with the visiting NBA-linked personalities. We have come through two decades and we are picking it up as we drive up court to the 30-year milestone." The 2009 Rodgers Camp opens on July 6 and closes July 31. The camp is open to males and females, ages 5-19. Daily activities begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. The 'Fun Night' is scheduled for July 29 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Congratulations Jeff! Friday, May 15, 2009