Imagine hitting a shot and a Toronto Raptors' player is there cheering you on. That's what 240 kids from across Ontario experience each year at the Raptors Basketball Academy Camp held at Humber College's North Campus.
This year, the camp was held between July 25 and 29 and was open to athletes aged 7 to 17. The theme for this year's camp was DREAM. The camp's leaders taught the future basketball stars values such as: Dedication, Responsibility, Equity, and Motivation.
Toronto Raptor players Justin Champagnie and Dalano Banton, who's from Toronto, were the special guests who stopped by to referee and cheer on dozens of kids. Earlier in the week, the young players also had the chance to meet the Raptors’ mascot.
The camp teaches players progressive drills and provides a space to play competitive games while partaking in 'life skills' classes to round out their camp experience.
Vivek Parmar is the Basketball and Soccer Development Coordinator at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and says they continue to choose Humber College to host the basketball camp for a reason. "The facility is beautiful. The people who work here are amazing," says Parmer.