It is 8 a.m. at the Rec Center, and the place is mad with around 50 children, ranging from grades five-12, shooting baskets.

Children from 3 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 3 inches share the court at the start of Monday’s Eastern’s Guard/Forward Camp, taking their precamp shots. One camper, however, decided to take a moment to rest.

Katie Hempen, stood out like a light bulb in an Amish town at the boy’s camp, but at the same time, blended in with her tomboy, love of the game attitude.

“I like to play with the boys,” said Hempen, who was the only girl at the camp. “I’ve done camps like this before; I just like playing basketball.”

The seventh-grade junior high player from Highland ventured to the girls’ camp last year, but decided to do both the girls’ and the guys’ camps this year.

“Highland’s got a good girls program, got a good group of girls,” said father Troy Hempen. “She plays a lot of ball during the summer; she wants to play. They got a rec center there in town; she’s always playin against the boys, and she just enjoys it.”

When Hempen was asked if she would join the men’s team at Eastern, she just smiled and said, “Maybe.”

Eastern power forward Jake Byrn was at the camp helping campers work on moving without the ball on Monday. His brother, Matt, was also at the camp.

Matt Byrn has said that it’s hard trying to live up to his older brother, but at the same time, his brother can help him out on his game.

“I try to do my best always, but I try to do a little better when he’s around,” said Byrn.

Older brother Jake has said working the camp has been fun since he’s been going to camps like the Guard/Forward Camp since he was his brother’s age.

Another camper that stood out Monday wore #117 on his jersey. It turns out, that camper came all the way from Wichita, Kan. to participate.

Kevin Kirkland had head coach Mike Miller and assistant coach Chad Altadonna in a camp in Kansas, and said that camp was “awesome.”

“They really know their stuff. It was just an individual camp there; they broke it down a lot.” In response to his wearing #117, all he could say was, “it’s one of those showcase [jersies].”

In addition to the Guard/Forward Camp, there will be a team camp on June 30 and a basketball day camp for kindergarden through eighth graders July 17-20.

Altadonna has said there is a discount for faculty, staff and immediate family members of faculty and staff for the camp. So instead of $100, it will cost about $85. Registration for the day camp goes right on through the start of the camp on the 17.

Men’s basketball coach Mike Miller works with a camper in the Boy’s guard and forward camp held at Eastern June 18-21

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