Gladiator Basketball Camp was off the hook
Meet new Italy Gladiator Head Coach Aidan Callahan — New Italy Gladiator boys basketball Head Coach Aidan Callahan gets introduced to local athletes during the Gladiator Basketball Camp held inside the dome June 14-17 for 4th thru 9th grade boys. (Barry Byers)
Gladiator Basketball Camp with Coach Aidan Callahan and Coach Larry Mayberry was an exciting educational experience for campers with fast-paced drills and a shark infested court.
Over the past six years, Coach Cal, a graduate of Howard Payne University, has been an assistant coach at Waco Midway, a head coach at Ft. Stockton and an assistant coach at Midlothian. He played High School ball for Brock and coincidentally stayed in the same hotel, during the state semifinals, as Italy’s 1997 squad that eventually won the state title.
Coach Cal is very excited to become a positive part of the community and looks forward to meeting everyone. “I’m really glad to join the Gladiator tradition and I’m thrilled at the level of talent that participated during the camp,” stated Coach Cal.
Among the drills, a favorite was the shark drill where campers dribbled simultaneously while challenging one another in an attempt to deflect the other’s ball away. Upon losing their dribble, campers would take a seat until just two were remaining.
At center court, four remained. Cameron Carter, Scott Connor, John Byers and Levi McBride attacked each others dribble with Byers out thrashing all the other sharks.
In a timed shooting drill where campers dribbled around cones from midcourt on their way to the hoop, Ty Windham dropped in a long jumper to beat the buzzer and win the challenge.
To wrap up the camp, Coach Cal lowered the backboards and campers competed in a dunking contest. Impressive slams were executed by Ty Hamilton, Clay Riddle and Levi McBride and Jarvis Harris.
Scott Connor slipped the ball between his legs and then slammed, all while in mid-air, and Ken Norwood performed a reverse dunk. Keith “Deuce” Davis, Jr., son of legendary NFL superstar Keith Davis, leaped over Tylan Wallace for the one handed slam, and in the end, won the slam dunk competition along with Cameron Carter.
The campers were at their best, and when they needed a crowd, they clapped for one another. Nice job Coach Cal and Coach Mayberry for putting on a fun camp with lots of excitement!