Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers looking to set up a long-term camp in Alaska: NBA News
Miami Heat’s young point guard Mario Chalmers is back in his home town to arrange his first ever basketball camp for the people of Anchorage, Alaska. The camp started from Wednesday and Chalmers was pretty excited to encourage
the young kids coming to his camp.
Chalmers wants to show these youngsters that with hard work one can make his dreams come true. The feedback was also amazing as players of different age groups, shapes and sizes kept arriving all day long.
During his time of struggle, Mario faced lot of naysayers, but he never quit following his dreams and eventually ended up playing for the Heat. Chalmers is the third player ever from Alaska, who had made it to the NBA.
Chalmers said, “I had people looking out for me growing up. It just kept me going.”
Chalmers still hasn’t forgotten that support. Reminding that time Mario said, “I heard that all the time: I would never make it, I would just be one of those kids that would be good in high school, nothing in college.”
With his backdrop Chalmers wants to give confidence to these young kids coming to his camp that never renounce and never allow others to tell them what to do.
Chalmers also said that, “Growing up, I didn’t really have anybody from Alaska to come back and talk to the kids and inspire us and encourage us. So my whole reason is coming back to the community and get kids off the streets.”
Around 50 odd kids attended the camp on the first day. The first shift includes younger children and elder ones came in the second shift that starts in the afternoon.
Most of the campers were boys, but quite a few girls were also there. South freshman Emma Andersen was among the few girls that attended the camp on first day, she also participated in the drills and scrimmages, which boys were
doing. Emma said she is not afraid of playing against the boys, as it helps her improve his game. At the same time Emma was looking to have some tips from Chalmers himself.
Mario’s future plan is to set up a basketball camp that will raise the standard of the game in his motherland. This camp would also help create a spirited travel team.
As Chalmers said, "That's the ultimate goal. Maybe a basketball academy."
Mario’s mother Almarie Chalmers and his father Ronnie Chalmers, ex-head coach of Bartlett and a former assistant coach of Kansas were also present on the camp. They both too guided the youngsters coming to the camp.
It was due to their teachings that Chalmers made it to the American league and the couple is jubilant over their son’s success and what Mario has achieved so far in his life.
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