Over thirty elementary, middle and high school kids came to the first day of a three-day basketball camp during the winter school vacation on February 21, 2017. Students had the chance to learn new skills and to sharpen their game through both instruction and free play. The event provided lots of much-needed physical activity for the boys and girls who participated. The free event was the brain child of Jeremy Lavoie, a 2009 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School who is currently enrolled in Manhattan College, and his friend, Jason Springer. A number of volunteers, including Ronald Cabral, assisted with the coaching. Mr. Lavoie used basketball to help him stay focused in graduate high school and further his education in college, and he wanted to pay that forward. Click here for a three-minute video of the clinic. Click here for photos of a previous school vacation clinic. To learn more about the project, contact event coordinator Jeremy Lavoie at toprecruitjl@gmail.com.

(Top row) Jeremy Lavoie talks with some of the volunteers before he and volunteer Ronald Cabral huddle with some elementary students as Sarah Leroux passes out J & J tee shirts. (Rows two and three) Eleven-year-old Robert Leroux and his brother, Jaidon, practice some shots with help from Mr. Cabral. (Row four) Saydie and Jameson Leroux watch from the sidelines as high school students Evan Bryant and Sean Murphy get airborne. (Row five) Jada Holley takes a shot while eight-year-old Gracie Bouchard watches before she joins the group for some stretches. (Bottom row) As Jada runs backwards and sideways, Evan Pereira is offered a drink by his grandfather, Ken Pereira.