August 6, 2019 at 1:31 p.m.
Hodag Hoops camp attracting players outside of Rhinelander
Hodag Hoops camp attracting players outside of Rhinelander
The four-day camp, for players entering grades 3-9 run by Rhinelander High School boys' basketball head coach Derek Lemmens, has always welcomed all comers, but there's even a greater out-of-town flavor this year.
"This is going to be the most from outside of Rhinelander we've had," Lemmens said, noting that nearly 20 of this week's camp participants reside outside the School District of Rhinelander. "We have a kid from Florida, a kid from Texas, a kid from California, a kid from Connecticut. We've got a couple of kids from Iron River, Mich. and then the typical Port Edwards/Wisconsin Rapids crew."
According to Lemmens, the Wisconsin Rapids area connection comes from when Lemmens was an assistant coach at Wisconsin Rapids prior to taking the head job at his alma mater nearly a decade ago. Dave Gibbs, who knew Lemmens from his time at Rapids, brought his players to camp one year, and his program continues to return.
"He liked what he saw, thought it was a good camp and just made it something where he brought kids for his program and it's kind of continued," he said.
As for the other out-of-towners, Lemmens credited the uptick to those visiting the area during the summer and noted word of mouth has helped the camp grow.
"I'd like to think people have a pretty positive experience and I like how our Hodag Hoops Camp is run, and the format," he said. "I think kids that participate really have a good time. I think that's something where it just becomes a thing where kids want to do it."
The four-day camp - led by the RHS coaching staff, RHS players and volunteers - mixes skills and drills with contests and games in what Lemmens calls a fun, competitive environment.
"It's neat because kids can play basketball," he said. "I don't think we over-drill. I think we find a nice, healthy balance where kids are learning the game, but also playing the game."
The camp includes 3-on-3, 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 leagues with campers split up into groups representing college and NBA teams. Following pool play the first three days, the campers compete in tournaments on Thursday for the right to pose with the giant Hodag Hoops Camp trophy and get their name on the Hodag Hoops plaque.
"We treat it like a Stanley Cup type thing," Lemmens said. "Fifty years from now, your name will be on there as a Hodag Hoops camp champion."
While he always wants to see more local faces, Lemmens said participation has leveled off despite the camp being held one week later than usual.
"I worry a little bit that it might hurt because we're going right before football and those fall sports," Lemmens said. "A lot of families have a vacation this week. But having (camp) a week later also kind of secures baseball being over and allows those guys missing because they've made a deep run in (Little League) All-Stars or something like that."
For the local contingent, the camp has a mutual benefit. The campers get a chance to work with the coaches who they will see again once they get to the high school level, and the RHS coaching staff gets to connect with its future players.
"It allows (the campers) to see our high school coaches, meet our high school coaches, work with our high school coaches, and it allows us to start to build a relationship with these kids and show them him how we play basketball in Rhinelander," Lemmens said. "Kids that miss that, they miss all the intricacies they might not get in travel ball. The fact that they get to see it firsthand and work with the high school coaches, I think that's really important."
Aside from learning skills, Lemmens said the campers are learning work ethic, teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership. Above all else, Lemmens said the campers are also developing a love for the game of basketball.
"Our biggest goal is try to build a love for the game and leave the kids hungry to play more," he said. "If they don't have that experience, not only are they missing the skill piece, they're just going to be lukewarm about basketball and about sports. Basketball's a skill sport. You got to want it. You got to work at it. Kids who don't work at it, the game becomes harder and harder as they move along."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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