Noblesville Boom Jr. Camp focuses on growth & positivity

By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com

NOBLESVILLE – The Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile is hosting the future of Indiana youth basketball this week.

The Noblesville Boom is hosting its second annual Jr. Hoops Summer Basketball Camp. The Boom is partnering with The National Basketball Academy to host the camp, which runs through Friday.

Rose Skripsky, the Youth Program Director for the Indiana Pacers and Fever, is leading the camp again this year. She told The Reporter that 51 young players, between the ages of 7 and 15, are participating. While most of the players are from Hamilton County and nearby cities such as Indianapolis and Pendleton, others are coming from Yorktown, Muncie and Delphi.

The camp is focusing on individual skill development and offers drills, skills contests and live games. The Tuesday edition of the camp finished with a live game that were competitive, with Skripsky and her four-person staff cheering everyone on.

The coaches on the staff are Warren Wallace, Amber Jackson, Michael Joseph Cook and Mya Parker. Skripsky noted that all four played basketball at the college level.

“These are very selfless coaches,” said Skripsky. “They are so focused about the kids’ development and it’s been awesome to watch.”

Skripsky was happy with the growth the young players were showing, starting with “the growth from drill to drill, as well as the skill and how it translates to gameplay.”

“These kiddoes push each other a lot,” said Skripsky. “They want to compete but they want to be the best teammates that they can be, too. A lot of that hype is actually cheering on their teammates, cheering on siblings or whatnot. A lot of growth has gone into that.”

The campers will all get a tangible way to measure their growth during the camp.

“By Friday, each player will have an individualized player evaluation,” said Skripsky. The coaches have been making notes about the growth they have been seeing each day.

In addition, the staff will be giving out player shoutouts – if one camper sees that another camper is doing something well, then they tell a coach to give their fellow player a shoutout.

“Definitely peer positive, but also they will be receiving skill development feedback from each coach,” said Skripsky.

Amber Jackson (right) is one of the staff members helping coach the young players. (Richie Hall)