FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama is hosting a basketball camp through Wednesday, June 30. The camp is open to boys from third grade through eighth grade.
"It's fun to give back," said Payton Youngblood, a graduate student on the men's basketball team. "I love being around kids. The playfulness, the creativity, the joy. I think there's a lot we can learn from as adults, just taking that and bringing it onto the court."
"It's something that is positive," said UNA Men's Head Basketball Coach Tony Pujol. "It's something that's fulfilling. Something that they are inspired to come to every day. We just want to create that type of environment where it's just fun for them. And, in fact, that's one of my rules. I've got three rules for them. Number one, I want you to listen with your eyes and your ears. I want you to make sure that this place is kept clean. And the third thing is just have a great time."
"I know what it means to them, looking up, finding a role model, someone to look up to," explained Youngblood. "I know when I have the most fun playing, I play free, like a kid. It's just fun. It's joyful. I can learn from that here. I can learn from them."
"Once these young campers have an opportunity to be around these players, I think what it also creates, it creates these young campers to come back and watch them play during the regular season," explained Coach Pujol. "Or come back next year for camp. What it's basically doing is intertwining our program with the community. And that's what it's all about."
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