Free camp at LaFayette offers pro-level training
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — A LaFayette High School alumnus and current professional basketball player is giving back to the community with a free basketball camp for boys and girls in grades six through 12.
Trevond Barnes, who played on the Bulldogs’ varsity team from 2012 to 2015, said he wanted to host the camp to give the area’s youth the chance to improve in the sport that has given him numerous opportunities.
“I've always been someone who’s prided myself in giving back and helping out others, especially from where I came from,” Barnes said. “This has been my way of giving back these past three years now, and it's always something I’ve wanted to do, and I look to continue doing it.”
The camp, which will be held July 11 and 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the LHS basketball gym, will allow participants to develop every aspect of their game.
Those in attendance will work on ball handling, shooting, passing, footwork and other offensive and defensive skills, and later showcase their improvement with one-on-one and three-on-three games, shooting and dribbling competitions and team contests.
“I feel like in today's game, you have to be a versatile player,” Barnes said. “I don't expect anyone to become an expert or supremely skilled at one specific thing we’ll teach them [at this camp], but hopefully we’ll open their minds, make them curious, help them learn little things they didn't know already and put them in good situations to compete and have fun.”
Barnes, an all-state-caliber player who starred for the Bulldogs as a 6-foot-9 center on the 2015 2A state championship team, has deep roots within the game of basketball.
In high school, he was a dominant force in the frontcourt for the Bulldogs, where his massive frame posed problems for opposing teams at the Class 2A level.
His prep career culminated during his senior season in the 2014-15 school year.
That season, he averaged 16 blocks, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game en route to being named to the Alabama Sports Writers’ Association’s 2A all-state first team and the 2A state tournament’s most valuable player.
After graduating from LHS in 2015, Barnes went on to play at the Division I level for Hampton University.
While playing for the Pirates, Barnes appeared in 115 total games — including 97 starts — over four years and averaged 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
Once his collegiate eligibility was exhausted, Barnes began a professional career that has featured stops in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Georgia and Luxembourg.
Barnes currently plays for Imortal Luzigas Albufeira in the Portuguese Liga Betclic, where he starts at center.
“Just having someone that's physically there and who you can touch and talk to, that makes a big difference,” Barnes said. “It's easy to say, ‘If you work hard and do this, anything is possible. But when you see someone from your exact same city able to do it, it gives [kids] more hope and makes it feel more real.”
Participants must be signed in by an accompanying adult no later than 5:30 p.m. and sign a participation waiver. Preregistration is not required.
For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation of LaFayette Facebook page, Barnes’ personal Facebook profile or @deeccus on Instagram.
