Camp teaches lessons beyond Xs and Os

Published 9:00 am Saturday, July 25, 2015

Now in its fifth year in Milledgeville, the Larry Turner basketball camp has become an integral part of many area youth’s summer conditioning of both their athletic skills and spiritual walk.

Josh Powell, a close friend of Turner’s and fellow professional basketball player, made an appearance at Thursday’s session as well.

Hosted at Sinclair Baptist Church, Turner spent the week working with kids ages 6 to 18, across two different sessions. The 11- to 18-year-olds worked with Turner Monday through Wednesday, and the 6- to 10-year-olds started Thursday and worked through Friday.

On top of the standard basketball fundamentals and drills covered at any camp, Turner, a Milledgeville local and Baldwin High School grad, also shares with the kids the importance of faith in all aspects of life.

“We’re praying every morning,” said Turner of the camp, as he and Powell each batted off questions about their personal careers.

“I’m just a servant of the Lord,” said Powell, very clearly.

“We both know one of the only reasons we made it is because of God and the foundation our parents gave us in the church,” said Turner.

The accomplishments of the two professional players are not to be overlooked. Turner enjoyed college careers with both the Oklahoma Sooners and the Tennessee State Tigers. Since then, Turner has surfed the free agent market of several professional international leagues including, most recently, the Greek basketball league, where he played for Koroivos. Turner was also signed as a free agent with the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers in 2007.

Powell is a two-time NBA champion from his stint with the L.A. Lakers during their 2008-2010 championship win streak. Powell was present for the 2009 and 2010 victories. He also reached champion status in the Euroleague when he took the championship title for the Olympiacos in 2013. Powell most recently played for the NBA’s Houston Rockets during the 2014 season.

The two met at age 16 when they both played for the Georgia Stars of the Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S. (AAU).

But, as these two professionals implored, this camp is about so much more than their own careers. The purpose of the camp and Powell’s guest appearance is to teach kids about the importance of their faith in every aspect of their life, including basketball.

Powell frequently makes unexpected appearances at events across the country, particularly in Atlanta, Houston and Los Angeles, in support of his own foundation: 21 Reasons to Give. 

Powell and friends, including fellow Georgia native and Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard, make pop-up appearances in support of their own foundations.

According to Powell’s foundation’s website, josh21powell.com, “Josh Powell established the 21 Reasons to Give Foundation in 2009 to proactively address the needs of youth ages 8 to 18 in communities from North Carolina to Georgia.”

Powell was No. 21 early in his professional basketball career. The number symbolizes many things and “he believes there are 21 fundamental reasons for everything the foundation does.”

Among the many projects the foundation has taken on since its inception are book readings at high schools, toy drives and handing out school supplies and hygiene essentials at lower-income schools.

“Josh believes what sets his foundation apart is his commitment and dedication to really looking into each community and addressing their needs,” says the website.

The camp continues in its physical and fellowship lessons Saturday with the 6- to 10-year-olds as they explore their role on a basketball team and in their community.