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Wilkins excited to be home, ready for hoop camp
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
As Damien Wilkins waited for media members to gather their belongings and prepare for an interview, he sank 3-pointer and after 3-pointer — nothing but nylon every time.
A star with the Seattle SuperSonics, and a Washington native, Wilkins will be passing on some of his knowledge to area kids. Wilkins will host a basketball camp today at P.S. Jones Middle School.
Wilkins will follow that up with his fourth annual “Fun Day” celebration on Saturday. The event, which will include a “Show Me What You Got” contest, will run from 2 to 6 p.m. in the field across from the Boys & Girls Club on Bridge Street.
“It’s an exciting time, not only for the community, but for me,” Wilkins said Thursday in the P.S. Jones Middle School gymnasium. “I’ve said all along that I don’t put this on for me. I do this strictly for the community.
“This community has given so much to me, so much support over the years. They’ve always had my back. I want to come back here and show them my appreciation. It means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to them.”
While the “Fun Day” event is for every person in the community, Wilkins’ focal point has always been on the kids.
“I’m just trying to do my part,” said Wilkins, who put up career-high numbers with 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.3 blocks per game last season with the SuperSonics. “Hopefully, I can touch just one kid, if not all. If I can touch just one person and help them achieve their dream, and then for them to come back and do the same and give back to their respective community, then I’ve done my job.”
Wilkins said he feels blessed that he’s able to give back, both with money and his time.
“It feels good to give back, but it feels even better to know that people appreciate it. I think one thing that you can’t give back once you’ve given it is your time.
“I’m here giving my time. I have people in town who are giving their time, helping me out, and I appreciate that a lot. We just want the community to appreciate it, enjoy themselves, come out and have some fun with us and just know how important it is to give back.”
Sarah Hodges, Public Information Officer with Beaufort County Schools, said the school system is happy Wilkins is giving back to the kids.
“Beaufort County schools is just really grateful for his giving attitude and for the way he holds this community in such high esteem,” Hodges said. “We hope the kids learn as much from that as his skills.”
Wilkins is anticipating 100 campers at today’s basketball camp. The first session for those in grades six through eight will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campers are asked to report to the gym by 9:30 a.m.
The camp’s second session, for those in grades nine through 12, will run from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Campers are expected to report by 2 p.m.
Francis Williams, who is spearheading the camp, said the focus will be on fundamentals.
“It’s really important to me and to (Wilkins) for kids to understand the fundamentals,” said Williams, a former basketball coach. “They see the highlights on ESPN and they think that the ‘and-one mix tapes’ are basketball. That’s entertainment, but when you get a chance to have an NBA guy come in and really give you some really specific pieces of how the game should be played, and give you some insight on what you need to work on to maybe aspire to (Wilkins’) level, I just think it’s really important they get the fundamental aspects of what the game is really all about.”
Campers won’t be going home with just the skills they learned at the camp. They’ll also get a DYNAMIC Foundation T-shirt, a Damien Wilkins Camp T-shirt provided by Adidas and prizes for some special campers.
“No one will leave here empty handed,” Williams said. “That’s for sure.”
A star with the Seattle SuperSonics, and a Washington native, Wilkins will be passing on some of his knowledge to area kids. Wilkins will host a basketball camp today at P.S. Jones Middle School.
Wilkins will follow that up with his fourth annual “Fun Day” celebration on Saturday. The event, which will include a “Show Me What You Got” contest, will run from 2 to 6 p.m. in the field across from the Boys & Girls Club on Bridge Street.
“It’s an exciting time, not only for the community, but for me,” Wilkins said Thursday in the P.S. Jones Middle School gymnasium. “I’ve said all along that I don’t put this on for me. I do this strictly for the community.
“This community has given so much to me, so much support over the years. They’ve always had my back. I want to come back here and show them my appreciation. It means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to them.”
While the “Fun Day” event is for every person in the community, Wilkins’ focal point has always been on the kids.
“I’m just trying to do my part,” said Wilkins, who put up career-high numbers with 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.3 blocks per game last season with the SuperSonics. “Hopefully, I can touch just one kid, if not all. If I can touch just one person and help them achieve their dream, and then for them to come back and do the same and give back to their respective community, then I’ve done my job.”
Wilkins said he feels blessed that he’s able to give back, both with money and his time.
“It feels good to give back, but it feels even better to know that people appreciate it. I think one thing that you can’t give back once you’ve given it is your time.
“I’m here giving my time. I have people in town who are giving their time, helping me out, and I appreciate that a lot. We just want the community to appreciate it, enjoy themselves, come out and have some fun with us and just know how important it is to give back.”
Sarah Hodges, Public Information Officer with Beaufort County Schools, said the school system is happy Wilkins is giving back to the kids.
“Beaufort County schools is just really grateful for his giving attitude and for the way he holds this community in such high esteem,” Hodges said. “We hope the kids learn as much from that as his skills.”
Wilkins is anticipating 100 campers at today’s basketball camp. The first session for those in grades six through eight will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campers are asked to report to the gym by 9:30 a.m.
The camp’s second session, for those in grades nine through 12, will run from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Campers are expected to report by 2 p.m.
Francis Williams, who is spearheading the camp, said the focus will be on fundamentals.
“It’s really important to me and to (Wilkins) for kids to understand the fundamentals,” said Williams, a former basketball coach. “They see the highlights on ESPN and they think that the ‘and-one mix tapes’ are basketball. That’s entertainment, but when you get a chance to have an NBA guy come in and really give you some really specific pieces of how the game should be played, and give you some insight on what you need to work on to maybe aspire to (Wilkins’) level, I just think it’s really important they get the fundamental aspects of what the game is really all about.”
Campers won’t be going home with just the skills they learned at the camp. They’ll also get a DYNAMIC Foundation T-shirt, a Damien Wilkins Camp T-shirt provided by Adidas and prizes for some special campers.
“No one will leave here empty handed,” Williams said. “That’s for sure.”
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