The campers ranged in age from 8 to 14, making their way from the gymnasium to the outside basketball courts. They were doing layup drills, getting warmed up for five-on-five games, when he was spotted and all focus was lost.
Wherever he walked, a trail of kids followed. Screams of “Chauncey, cousin Chauncey,” could be heard all the way down the street as 200 kids attempted to get the attention of the founder of the Chauncey Billups basketball camp Saturday.
Billups, the Detroit Pistons and former University of Colorado star, has been putting on a free basketball camp for the kids in his old neighborhood for four years and in the area many consider him family.
“This is everything for me. This is my ‘hood,” Billups said. “These are all kids that you know. I went to school with their parents and brothers and sisters. It’s good for them to come and play and have fun and stay safe for a couple of days.”
The camp was held Friday and Saturday at the Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center, the same place Billups played as a kid. The indoor baskets and eight outdoor baskets were raffled at camp’s end for some lucky kids.
“This camp is really cool and fun,” Jalen Moore, 9, said. “I learned how to dribble better and do a crossover.”
Moore was one of several kids playing five-on-five on the outdoor courts. Billups acted as teacher and motivator and even played a couple of full-court games with the kids.
“The best part was when we got to meet Chauncey and then he played on our team,” 9-year-old Tamia Thomas said.
The kids seemed entertained and in awe of their hometown hero as he interacted with them on a personal level, walking around meeting them and answering questions. He watched the games in progress on each court, shouting encouragement. Billups gave each camp participant a T-shirt, basketball, headbands and wristbands.
The MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals said when he was young, he had to get sponsored to attend camps – the main reason he wanted to make sure that kids who wanted to attend a basketball camp could participate.
“That’s the reason why I do it for free: You don’t need anything but some shoes; just show up,” Billups said. “For me to give them the opportunity to come out free of charge, they get a lot of giveaways and have fun. They can meet new friends, learn a little about the game, see me and meet me.”
Brandon Meachum can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bmeachum@denverpost.com.
