It may be summer but the Piedmont High School gymnasium is still filled with the sounds of bouncing balls and squeaking sneakers. The Piedmont Basketball Academy, formed by Piedmont High girls basketball coach Bryan Gardere, is running weeklong camps all summer.
“We’re trying to make a place for kids who love basketball and enjoy basketball to go to work on their skills,” Gardere said.
Boys and girls, ages 6-14, are welcome to the camp, which runs 9:00 am – 12 noon every weekday. The cost is $200 per week.
Gardere runs the camps along with Kenny Evans and several former Piedmont players. Two former NBA players have also come to help out: former Warriors David West and Dorell Wright.
Camps continue this week and the weeks of July 22-26 and July 29-August 2. The gymnasium floor is being resurfaced next week.
Gardere has been doing camps since he came to Piedmont 17 years ago. The PBA is a continuation of that.
No previous experience is needed and all are welcome. The camps are designed to help both the beginner and the experienced player — no matter what level, it’s all about improving the skills.
“The more skillful you are the more fun you’re going to have,” Gardere said. “Basketball is a skillful sport. If you don’t have a left hand, if you don’t dribble right, you won’t want to play.”
More information is available at PiedmontBasketball.com/pba. Players can also just show up.