Day 1 of the ACE Summer Developmental Basketball Camp

On July, 20, 2013, A.C.E. Summer Developmental Basketball Camp in partnership with Perseverance Mentoring kicked off on the right foot. The morning began with coaches selecting players for each team. The new t-shirts branded with A.C.E., Perseverance Mentoring, and Starbucks of course filled the gym with red, blue, yellow and sky blue. Darnell Dinkins, former tight end for New Orleans Saints, lead the pep talk to the athletes. He spoke about the importance of a positive attitude and having a commitment to what you want to be successful in in life. He emphasized about maximizing your efforts in everything that you do. The talk gave the athletes focus and inspiration to begin the day.

It was time to go to work!  As the experienced coaches, student coaches, and volunteer coaches led the athletes in conditioning.  The teams were separated and matched with their coaches to their designated stations.  There were four stations sectioned off at the Market House gym on the Southside of Pittsburgh and they were ball handling drills, shooting, strength training and foot work.

There was some coaches that were once student athletes that played on Perseverance Mentoring AAU High School team.  California University student, Bruce Glover, dedicated his Saturday by giving back his time by coaching the young athletes in ball handling drills.

This is the first Saturday that is the beginning of several that will be filled with inspiration, hard work, and most of all fun!