In it¡¯s first year under the guidance of Nittany Lion Head Coach Ed DeChellis and Assistant Coach Kurt Kanaskie, the Boys¡¯ Basketball Team Camp proved to be a great success hosting 34 teams. The two-day camp ran from June 26th to 27th providing junior varsity, varsity, and club teams with the opportunity to train and compete under the guidance of the Penn State Men¡¯s Basketball staff. Tactical training sessions, technical pressure training, and daily competitions were organized to keep the boys on their toes throughout the two days.

State High Boys Basketball coach Drew Frank says, ¡°The camp is the nicest we¡¯ve been to with the finest facilities. This camp has provided us with not only quantity, but quality as well.¡±

Coach Ed DeChellis along with Assistant Coach and Camp Director Kurt Kanaskie, organized the camp and successfully recruited high school teams by having the staff personally contact them by telephone with various camp details. Teams from Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, New York, and various regions of Pennsylvania traveled to Penn State to be a part of the camp.

The teams got a taste of the college life staying in Sproul and Brumbaugh dormitories located in the campus¡¯ East Halls complex and dined in Findlay Commons, all within a 10-minute walk to each of the sports facilities. Games were played in Penn State¡¯s Multi-Sport Facility, Intramural Building, and the Bryce Jordan Center.

Kennedy Catholic High School coach Tim Loomis said, ¡°The facilities are fantastic, they¡¯re the nicest in the country.¡±

Loomis, along with several other coaches were impressed by the organization of the camp. Lakota East High School coach Wally Vickers said, ¡°The staff maintained the schedule and were extremely accommodating. We could depend on the games to start on time with every court being fully staffed and ready to go, that¡¯s exactly what you want in a sports camp.¡±

Each team brought between eight to 12 players. Campers commented on their excitement in attending the camp and satisfaction with the competition they faced during camp games.

Teams were scheduled to compete against other schools according to size and skill level. Accommodations were happily made for any teams that wanted an extra challenge in their schedule. Coach Coffman of Lancaster, OH., plans for his players to leave the camp with a greater knowledge of their strengths, weaknesses, and endurance levels.

Expecting between 14 and 18 teams to attend, Coach DeChellis and Coach Kanaskie were very satisfied with the camp¡¯s turnout. With its beginning foundation being even stronger than anticipated, the Penn State Team Camp organizers hope to see it grow each year continuing in their pursuit to provide high schools across the region with the best Team Camp in the state.