For quite some time it had been the dream of former NCAA basketball star, Arnold Henry, to organize a youth basketball camp in Chestermere. An event where kids could learn the fundamentals of basketball and also the importance of receiving a proper education and the role that plays in professional sports.
Arnold Henry is a former NCAA D-1 basketball player, an author and motivational speaker who strives to inspire all generations through his words of empowerment. Born and raised in the Simply Beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia, he was awarded the National Junior Male Basketball Player of the Year in 2001. After graduating from Entrepot Secondary School, from 2003-2008, Arnold played basketball for five different schools in America: Massanutten Military Academy, University of Vermont, Carl Albert State College, University of North Florida, and Edward Waters College. In 2004, Arnold Henry became Saint Lucia’s first and still the only male basketball player from his island to achieve a full basketball scholarship as a Freshman from an institution that participates at the highest level of the National Collegiate Athlete Association, better known as NCAA Division I.
His debut book, “Hanging On To My Dreams: an autobiography of bouncing back from all rejections”, chronicles the family life, the love, the heartbreak and his refuge that he found in playing basketball. So if there was ever someone to teach the youth about life’s trials, how to come out of them on top while pursuing your sports dream, Arnold Henry is highly qualified.
So in a collaborative effort with the Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre, Henry began organizing the Arnold Basketball Camp (ABC Skills Development Basketball Camp). As it is no secret in Chestermere, finding space to host such a camp was almost an impossible task but as soon as a location was found, this event took off.
From July 13th – 17th the first ABC Skills Development Basketball Camp was held at Chestermere Lake Middle School. Nineteen kids participated that ranged in ages from six to fifteen years of age. But Henry didn’t want to keep all this fun to himself, so he brought in his brother to help him out. Aloysius Henry, 6-foot-10-inches, born and raised in St. Lucia, but currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife and 2-year-old son. He is a former NCAA Division I basketball player and played professional basketball in Europe. This fall 2015, he starts his first NCAA basketball assistant coaching job at 26 years old. “I was so happy that he flew all the way from the states to join us for our first ever summer basketball camp in Chestermere”, said Arnold.
ABC Skills Development Summer Basketball Camp 2015, not only focused on the fundamentals of basketball, but how the importance of education plays a vital role in earning sports scholarships. Throughout the week, the brothers sat the kids down for fifteen minutes to speak to them about different topics such as:
– Using teamwork to accomplish one common goal.
– Working hard to achieve dreams and understanding taking a day off means that you’re giving someone else a chance to take your opportunities.
– The priority of education over basketball, how to earn scholarships in the USA.
– Encouraging and pushing your teammates.
When asked if they would host this event again, Arnold replied, “At the end of the camp, I asked the students if I was to do it again in the winter, would they come back, and everyone said that they had so much fun and looking forward to another ABC Skills Development basketball camp. I would be honored to do another camp”.
He continued to say, “I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids. They were on their best behaviours, very attentive, encouraging to others, willing to learn and showed outstanding leadership and work ethics in the different basketball drills”.
Henry is always one to give back to his community. He, along with the great team at The Point, have organized a few comedy nights where a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales have gone to such local groups such as Synergy and the CRCA.
Henry commented, “At this point, I would like to say thanks to all the members of CRCA for their participation in helping to organize such a successful basketball camp. And to the staff of Chestermere Lake Middle School for allowing us to use their facility and equipment. Lastly, to the parents of the students who trusted us to teach their children the game of basketball. Thank you”.
