Wilcox Summer Basketball camps, tournament, set for this weekend
For Immediate Release
August 10, 2009
Four free youth clinics, an 18-and-under round-robin tournament and a coaches’ reception highlight a weekend of basketball, part of the Wilcox Late Night Basketball program’s 18th annual festival.
This year’s event will be held this weekend, Saturday (Aug. 15) and Sunday (Aug. 16) at Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Rd. PC is a sponsor of the summer camp. The clinics for 12 and under boys and girls will be held at 9 a.m. to noon on both days, while camps for 15 and under youths will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the college gymnasium. In addition, special presentations will be made at 12:30 p.m. both days by former Phoenix Suns Frank Johnson and Eddie Johnson.
There are 60 slots open for each camp. Participants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Youths can register by contacting Molly Buchanan at the office of Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, 602-506-7092.
Each evening, an 18-and-under All Star invitational round-robin tournament will be held for some 40 high school players from around the Valley. From this group, an All Star team will be selected to challenge a team from Hermosillo, Mexico in September as part of an Arizona-Mexico Commission initiative.
This is the 18th year for the Mary Rose and Earl Wilcox Late Night Basketball program. It began as part of an effort to keep inner-city youth off the streets during the summer weekend nights. The program serves youth throughout Maricopa County District 5, including south and west Phoenix, Tolleson and Glendale.
This weekend’s activities open with a reception at El Portal Restaurant, 117 W. Grant at 6 p.m. Friday, (Aug. 14). The reception will honor six basketball instructors:
n Coach David Lopez, of St. Mary’s High School, the 2008 5A Desert Valley Division 1 State champions.
n Coach Joseph Bustos, of the North High 5A Metro State champions;
n Coach Matt Gordon of Phoenix College, winners of the Arizona Community College championship;
n Dale Larsen, director of the Phoenix Parks and recreation Department;
n Bob Wycoff, director of the Salvation Army Kroc Center;
n Daniel Hidalgo Hurtado, director of the Sonoran Commission on Sports and Member of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.
Contacts: Molly Buchanan, 602-506-7092; Earl Wilcox: 602 -358-5266; Matt Gordon: 602-285-7684