Every Coach at every level start out as a Coach of a ball team with the long term goal of turning a team into a full fledged Program. Some coaches fall by the wayside quickly, without ever reaching their goal while others become the Face of a program. Coach K at Duke, Geno with the UConn Ladies and Dawn Staley down at South Carolina are great examples at the Collegiate level while Cindy Edwards and Coach Motley are the same here locally.

Barnes and Richardson are set to begin their fourth season together at the helm of the Boys 👦 program and today they held opening day of their annual Camp. Barnes was elated at the number of campers that were in the Gymnasium (42) and while that number was truly impressive, it wasn’t the number that jumped out enough to declare that the program had reached the next level. If one takes a close look at the photo 📷 above it will be easy enough to see the number of “Staffers” that our Duo had been able to enlist to help teach the up and coming players.

The group is a mix of current Cavaliers and Cavs alumni. The sign of a team becoming a Program is when your former players volunteer their time and energy to push the team forward. The number of former players reaching back to keep the team on the right path sends a strong message out to all that are paying attention.

Back to the chemistry ⚗ between the Coaches is a perfect mix – a Recee Peanut Butter Cup type of relationship. Barnes is a tremendous leader of young Men and tends to play things closer to the Vest while Richardson leans a little to the humorous side. Most Coaching staff’s are aligned with a clear cut ✂️ Head Coach with a Trusty, Dedicated Plucky Sidekick alongside. Don’t underestimate just how valuable the number 2 spot is to the success of a Program. Rick Nester and his right hand man Jeff are a great example with their Softball program.

Baskins and Robbins, Sears and Roebuck, Ben & Jerry’s can be used as great examples of equal billing when it comes to historical Partners.

Richardson, quick to show his sense of humor was quick to note 📝 ” You can call us Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum,” Richardson said. “As long as I get to be Tweedle Dee.”

Season 3 ended with the Cavaliers proud owners of a winning record 👏 and won a Home 🏡 Regional tournament game before before falling on the road at Tunstall.

Nobody knows exactly how the 4th edition will turn out but things we do know for sure – they will be well Coached and they will play hard every night 🌙 out.

The Camp Staff….

Our Coaches and the Award Winners 🏆 from Day #1 of the Camp.

Camp resumes at 8:30 with a Free Breakfast ahead of a 9:00 start time. The Camp runs through Thursday.

Thanks to Tweedle Dee for the invite !

Today was Day 1 of 4 at the Boys 👦 Basketball 🏀 annual Camp and the Gymnasium was full of energy. Sessions begin at 9:00 and concludes at 3;00pm with a one hour Lunch Break from 11:30-12:30pm

Barnes and Richardson have ample help as a large number of Current and Former players are in the Gymnasium to lend a hand ✋.

Elijah Cox was back on the Court working 💪 with one of the seven groups and challenged his younger ones to a Free Throw contest

The challenge ended with some Push ups

During the 5 on 5 Drills

Six hours per day minus one hour for Lunch times four days = 20 hours worth of Basketball 🏀 drills.

Coach Barnes was proud of the fact that the total number of campers this year is 42. Barnes is getting ready to start his four season at the helm of the Varsity Boys 👦 program and this years number is the largest to date.