Words by Thomas Ingle | Images by Justin Hunter
On July 28, Oakman High School hosted a basketball camp for local youth. The camp provided a valuable opportunity for young basketball enthusiasts in the area to learn from experienced mentors and foster a love for the sport.
The camp was led by Bart Hyche, former Mississippi State basketball player and founder of hychehoops.com. Assisting him was Ben Mullins, the current basketball coach at Florence High School in Florence, Ala.
Hyche expressed his fondness for Walker County, saying, “My dad was from Cordova, and my mom was from Eldridge. Walker County has and will always have a very special place in my heart.”
Hyche and Mullins, along with Oakman boys’ basketball coach Jeff Ward, aided campers aged five to 12 in learning essential basketball skills and techniques, such as dribbling, passing, defending, shooting, and rebounding.
Stacy Courington, who oversees the Oakman Youth Basketball Association, and her brother, Oakman High School football and baseball coach Ryan Hall, played a key role in organizing the event. Expressing her gratitude for the camp’s turnout, Courington stated, “I appreciate the parents entrusting their children with us. We are just trying to generate as much involvement in basketball as we can as mentors. We are thankful to Bart, Ben, and Coach Ward for donating their time to help the kids succeed.” WL
For more information on the Oakman Youth Basketball Association, visit them on Facebook.
