WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The high school basketball season is just around the corner and one area college is taking the opportunity to get some of the best area players ready for the 2024-25 season.

The Jefferson Women’s Basketball Elite Camp kicked off on Sunday afternoon at the McVean Athletic Center on the campus of Jefferson Community College.

The camp, taking place three consecutive Sundays for an hour and a half, is open to girls in grades eight through 12.

Twenty-two girls took part with coaches and players from the JCC women’s basketball team giving instruction to the players in attendance.

“We’re going to focus a lot on shooting, ball handling, defense, post play,” JCC women’s basketball coach and camp organizer Jeff Wiley said, “so they’ve got all aspects of their game.”

Wiley says the timing of the basketball camp coincides with the start of the high school basketball season for these girls.

The players say they’re happy to get an early jump on the upcoming season and look forward to working on specific parts of their games.

“Honestly, just coming here was a no-brainer,” LaFargeville junior Chloe Gafford said. “I love being on the court, playing basketball, getting as much time as I can especially before the season starts. It’s great to be getting time in outside of just my team. I just hope to take away whatever they teach me. Any new skills, just grow as an athlete, and be able to soak in being around these elite players.”

“I hope to take lots of skills and teamwork, more teamwork skills and to better myself and get ready for the season,” Hammond player Jocelyn Bush said. “I think it’s very important because you’re building skills before the season even starts and you can always better yourself in the off season.”

For the JCC players, some of whom attended this basketball camp, it’s a unique opportunity to work with some of the best girls’ basketball players in the area and not only give back to the community but pass along some of their lessons both on and off the court.

“I think it’s honestly really fun to come and teach kids here,” JCC sophomore guard and All-American LaKaiya Butcher said. “I think we have a lot of local kids that look up to us now especially with the things we did last year. So, them coming here and getting a chance to learn from us I think is really cool.”

Wiley says offering camps like this to the local players is an important aspect in their development and something that can’t be understated.

“You look at my roster, it’s all local,” he said. “NAC girls, Frontier League girls, some from Onondaga County, it’s mostly just this local area. Just trying to build the local talent and having our summer camps, our summer leagues, and then fall leagues, fall camps just to kind of build the skill level in this area which has been great. Our teams in the Frontier League represent Section III very well. They go far in the state tournaments and just kind of help build on that.”

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