If you’re looking for a way to improve your child’s basketball abilities in a positive, encouraging environment, look no further than Jonquin McKinney’s summer camp. “Coach Q,” as many of his mentees call him, has planned his fifth annual basketball camp for the first three days in June.
The 5th Annual ATAP Fundamentals Summer Camp will be held Tuesday, June 1; Wednesday, June 2; and Thursday, June 3, at Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department (632 McLeod Bridge Road, Swainsboro). Sessions for children ages six to 12 will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. daily, and the afternoon sessions from noon to 2:30 p.m. will be for those ages 13 to 17.
There is a fee of $75 per camper, which will cover the cost of instruction, a t-shirt, and medals for the Beastmode Camper (someone who brings energy and gives 110 percent every day) and the Sportsmanship Camper (somebody who is helpful and keeps a great attitude) for each age group. All proceeds from the event will be put back into ATAP basketball.
McKinney started the camp back in 2015 when he saw a need to improve players’ mechanics. Short for “All Things Are Possible,” ATAP has grown considerably since then. Coach Q is a former NAIA player with proven coaching experience at different levels and has helped a handful of basketball players go on to play in college. Today, he continues to train athletes on the side and will join East Laurens High School’s varsity basketball program as an assistant coach later this year. Still, the founder is looking forward to this year’s camp more than ever because the pandemic canceled last year’s.
“It was very disturbing when COVID hit last summer, but I continued to work on my craft in other ways to be better when I was able to re-start the camp,” McKinney commented. “That said, I’m really excited to start back up because I have more clients and more individuals have gained interest in the game.”
McKinney will have a few former students on hand to help him run the camp. If you’re interested in sending your child, contact Coach Q at 478-494-3069 or find “Atap Fundamentals” on Facebook.