PANAMA CITY— With NBA insight and a mission rooted in motivation, the Optimistic Kids’ Basketball Camp tips off at Bay High School, offering local youth players an opportunity to sharpen their game and build confidence under professional guidance.
The two-day camp, July 11–12, is led by NBA assistant coach Akeem S. Williams, who brings experience from the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. Williams, who has worked with stars like LeBron James and Dwight Howard, headlines a staff of coaches with NCAA Division I, NBA and international experience.
The camp is divided by age group, with 7–12-year-olds attending on Friday and 13–18-year-olds participating on Saturday. Each day runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring high-intensity offensive and defensive stations, 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 competitions, and an awards ceremony recognizing both skill and character.
Players will rotate through focused drills to improve technical abilities and basketball IQ. The 3-on-3 tournament emphasizes spacing, timing and teamwork, while the 5-on-5 games give participants a chance to apply what they learned in real-game scenarios. Winners receive trophies and commemorative t-shirts.
There are only 40 spots left, and families can register now at this link to secure a place.
Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: NBA assistant coach Akeem Williams to lead Optimistic Kids’ Basketball Camp at Bay High
Reporting by Banji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
