Kids filled the gym on every court at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center over the July 30 weekend in Bloomington.
Some were busy playing five-on-five basketball. Others were working through specific drills, and yet more were playing a game of knockout among other activities.
On one of the courts Saturday morning, the children were running through sprints to halfcourt and back, giving the mini-workout their best to impress a certain observer watching just a few feet away.
“That’s how we do it, right Yogi?” a counselor asked aloud.
And former Indiana star Yogi Ferrell – observing the kids sprinting and sweating in their Yogi Ferrell Camp tshirts – nodded with approval.
Roughly 120 kids from grades 1-12 showed up for Ferrell’s Basketball ProCamp over the duration of the weekend.
The camp sessions, in addition to a rotation through the aforementioned activities, also included a question and answer period with the former Hoosier – now signed with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets – about a variety of topics.
There was also some recognition for a few special families and campers in attendance. One of those honored was George Bockting, 37, who lives south of Bloomington with his family. Two of his children and two of his stepchildren, all aged between 6-10, participated in the camp.
Bockting’s kids were awarded spots free of charge as a scholarship sponsored by the camp honoring their father’s military service. Currently in the Indiana Army National Guard in Bloomington, he’s served for 20 years total, including in Bosnia in 2002, Iraq in 2003 and 2004, and Iraq again in 2008.
“We thought it’d be a great opportunity,” Bockting said. “We’ve got some boys that love to play basketball and they’ve really enjoyed coming out.”
The family is ingrained in Indiana hoops. For Bockting, his loyalty goes all the way back to the 1986-87 team, which finished 30-4 overall and captured the NCAA national championship.
He detailed watching that championship game against Syracuse in his house when he was just seven years old, and when Keith Smart’s shot with five seconds to play lifted the Hoosiers to a 74-73 victory.
“We all went crazy in the house, and I’ve been a fan ever since,” Bockting said. “It’s great to have Yogi back out here.
“It means a lot for the children to get a chance to meet somebody that they maybe are aspiring to be or be like. It gives them a good, positive role model, so I do appreciate him coming back and giving to the community and kids.”
In another part of the complex, Ferrell’s father, Kevin, watched his son maneuver from court-to-court working with the children.
“I think the camp is going fabulous,” Kevin Ferrell said. “The kids are having a really good time. Yogi’s involved and engaged with all the kids – I see a lot of them out here enjoying themselves.
“Anytime you can put a smile on a kid’s face and leave an impression on them, that’s a big thing. We’ve always talked about different ways we can do that.
“I see him over there smiling right now. He loves it and loves giving back to the community.”
And for Yogi, helping with the camp was exactly about that – giving back to the community.
“I knew me and my dad wanted to host a camp and ProCamps came to us with the idea, so we felt like it’d be a great to do it here,” Yogi Ferrell said. “Somewhere that I’ve played at before, right down the street from Assembly Hall.
“All the times they’ve come to our games all four years I was there, and now I’m giving back to them what they gave to me.”
Next for Ferrell is trying to make the permanent roster in Brooklyn. He signed a one-year partially guaranteed deal with the NBA franchise in July, and hopes to build upon that after going unselected in the 2016 draft.
“It’s time for me to go out and prove myself I feel like,” Ferrell said. “I can only do that through my work and confidence, just doing what I can do.”
See also:
· Photos – A gallery from the Yogi Ferrell Basketball ProCamp (link).
· Video – Ferrell recreates his game-winning shot vs. Iowa for campers (link).
· Story – Full Q&A with Ferrell from his camp (premium link).
