Eastern’s boys’ basketball day camp began on Monday, but it differed from the previous basketball camps. All of Eastern’s other basketball camps this year have ranged from junior high to the high school level.

This week’s camp is for boys from kindergarten to junior high. Because of the difference in ages, the camp is run differently.

“We have some five- and six-year-old kids in the camp so we want them to have fun. We want them to have a chance to enjoy playing basketball and we are trying to teach them some fundamentals and just work with them,” said men’s basketball head coach and camp director Mike Miller.

With many of the camp participants being so young, the camp counselors have to be more patient with the kids and remember that the whole purpose of the camp is for the kids to have fun and make new friends.

“We are trying to incorporate a little of both technique and focus on the fun side of basketball, the kids are here all day so we definitely have to incorporate some fun in there, but the main purpose is to develop the fundamentals and teach them the true definition of playing basketball,” said assistant men’s basketball coach and camp counselor Marcus Belcher.

As with all of Eastern’s camps this year, the day camp gives the kids a chance to interact with kids in the same age group as themselves and make new friends with a similar passion in sports.

“I came to camp to learn some new stuff and make some new friends, so far the best part has been the five-on-five scrimmaging,” camper Jordan Boldig said.

Camp began Monday and concludes today, practice time begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. The kids spend most of the day practicing and scrimmaging against each other, but they are given frequent water breaks and chances to do activities that get them out of the hot gym. One of the activities the campers have been able to do to help cool off, is to take advantage of Eastern’s indoor pool.

According to Miller, the kids are all from the nearby area. He estimates that the campers are all from within a 30-mile radius of Charleston.

“My grandpa lives here and I wanted to get better at basketball, so I thought it would be fun to come to this camp. So far I’ve learned a lot about defense,” camper T.J. Gates said.

When the campers leave Eastern at the end of the camp, they will be leaving behind all the friends they made here, but the counselors hope the things they learned while they were here will stick with them and help them down the road.