This past week was the final installment of the sixth annual Sean Miller Basketball Camp hosted by the UA basketball coaching staff.
Though named after him, this was the first year that Miller was not in attendance for the basketball camp. He was named an assistant basketball coach for the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team and has been with the team in Colorado for the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men.
As a result of Miller’s absence, associate head coach Joe Pasternack took the lead in running the two week camp.
“The most rewarding part of the camp every year is watching the kids grow and come back and learn so much while having fun,” Pasternack said.
This summer’s basketball camp was a year of firsts for the coaching staff and kids, but it was also the first year that the basketball camp was not held in McKale Center. It was held instead in the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium.
McKale Center is currently undergoing $80 million in renovations in preparation for the upcoming basketball season this fall.
Ryan Reynolds, director of basketball operations, said there were some issues presented with McKale Center unavailable for use.
“It has been hectic using [Richard Jefferson] gym because these facilities are not built to hold so many people like McKale is, and we had to limit the number of kids for the program.” Reynolds said.
The Richard Jefferson Gym will continue to host summer camps such as the David Rubio Volleyball Camp and the Niya Butts Basketball Academy. Usually, all three camps are held every summer in McKale Center and they share the facilities.
Like the Sean Miller Camp, the Butts Basketball Academy and Rubio Volleyball camp were limited on space and had to limit the numbers of kids they allowed participate in their summer camps.
—Follow Daniela Vizcarra @vizcarra_dw