Basketball Smiles 2025 Camp Registration Official Release

(Abilene, TX) For Immediate Release:

Coach Sam Nichols, retired Hall of Fame Head Women’s Basketball Coach at McMurry University, Abilene, Texas will be here again in June for his 26th Annual Basketball Smiles Basketball Camp.

Based upon the tremendous success of the 2025 camp, this year's Basketball Smiles Camp is an Elite Skills Development Camp focusing on upper-level basketball skills for serious-minded players. This year's camp will be limited to Jr. High and High School players ONLY! To ensure a quality coach-player ratio camp size is limited-firstcome, first-served.

The camp will be held at the Kendal Isaacs National Gym and outdoor courts, June 16-18, 2025. Basketball Smiles Camps are FREE and coordinated by H.O.Nash Coach Patty Johnson. This is an intensive three-day comprehensive skills development camp and campers MUST attend all three days. No exceptions.

Basketball Smiles camps are wildly popular and unfortunately in years past we have had more students arrive for camp than we can accommodate so several potential campers had to be turned away at the door. To avoid disappointment, you must come early to register (note registrationtimes) so you won't be left out – we can’t wait to see you!

Here is the Camp Schedule: Monday-Wednesday June 16-18

Girls Camp 9:00am-12:00pm Registration at 8:30am

Boys Camp 1:00pm-4:00pm Registration at 12:30pm

*To provide a quality camp experience, size will be limited!

*For safety concerns absolutely no unsupervised children will beallowed at Camp.

*Closed Camp access only to registered campers, their parents, and Basketball Smiles staff including pre- approved volunteers.

Since Basketball Smiles began, boys and girls across the Bahamas have benefited from these free basketball camps and the Life Skills Program of Basketball Smiles. Over 12,000 children have been served through Basketball Smiles since our beginning in 1999.

In 2007, Sam retired from 33 years coaching Women's Basketball. The last12 years was spent as Head Women's Basketball Coach at McMurry University. He retired as the all-time winningest Women's Basketball Coachin McMurry University history. In 2017 he was inducted into the prestigious McMurry University Athletic Hall of Honor. Sam has also been named as the Women’s Basketball Coach for the All-Century Team at McMurry University. Coach Nichols guided the Lady Indians to national prominence during his twelve seasons at McMurry University. He also won several Coach-of-the-Year honors during his career.

Coach Nichols is joined by Texas coaches Jonathan Gibson, Trovoice Jackson, Kyle and Renee Williams, David Bookman, Chris Burrow, Larry Petite, Jeremy Cunningham, Billy Cunningham, Derek Speights, Tracie Robbins, and Stephanie Holloway.

“After over 40 years of basketball camp experience, I’ve found that a fast-paced camp with three days of high intensity, quality instruction is the most efficient way to conduct a basketball camp. We are so excited to, once again, offer an Elite Skills Development Camp to serious basketball players in The Bahamas. If young women and young men truly want to improve their skills to advance to the next level, Basketball Smiles Camp is for you!"

Basketball Smiles is sponsored in part in by The Atlantis, Caribbean Coca-Cola, The Green Parrot, Kelly’s, Bahamas Wholesale, Lickety Split, D’Albeneas Company, Doctors Hospital, New Providence Ecology Park,Wizard Signs, Original Patties, Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, and Rotary Club of East Nassau.

“This group of coaches comprise a tremendous staff of dedicated coaches with big hearts who love teaching the game of basketball. We have the largest and most experienced staff in the history of Basketball Smiles. All ofthese coaches raised their own money and are giving of their free time to come and work with Bahamian boys and girls. The quality of instruction will be second to none, and the love these coaches have for the campers will besecond to none.”

The motto of Basketball Smiles is: “We bring a week of smiles and hope through basketball.” According to Coach Nichols, “Along with basketball, we conduct a daily life skills program during the camp that emphasizes self-respect, academic success, good citizenship, and spiritual values. Our goal is not just to develop basketball players but help build future leaders in The Bahamas.”

As always, Coach Nichols’ itinerary will be coordinated by Coach PattyJohnson of H.O. Nash Jr. High. If you have any questions regarding the Basketball Smiles Camp, contact Coach Patty Johnson, at H.O. Nash Jr. High: 242-323-6489.

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More than just a camp, Basketball Smiles programs help children develop character and leadership skills that are stepping stones to a successful future on and off the court. Camp dates for 2025 are June 16-19.

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