Harker’s summer sports camps kicked off in late June with basketball camp, which ran June 23-27 at the middle school campus. Focused on the fundamentals of the sport, the camp was open to students in grades 4-8 and was led by veteran basketball coach and camp director John “Sarge” Siers.

A longtime friend of upper school division head and varsity basketball coach Butch Keller, Siers has been teaching at summer basketball camps since 1985. His coaching philosophy is that first, he says, “[Campers] must have fun. When they have fun, they are open to part two: they must be taught.”

Campers participate in a series of drills designed to teach them fundamental basketball skills such as dribbling, ball handling, passing and shooting. Developing these skills, Sarge said, increases the enjoyment of the game. “The better their skills the more fun they will have,” he said. “We teach them what they need to be a complete player no matter what level they choose to play at.”

Sarge’s hope is that by the end of the camp, the students will have gained a new appreciation for the sport and more confidence in their abilities. “My goal is that they have fallen in love with a game I have dedicated my life to,” he said. “I want them to understand how to set goals, how to play basketball and how to believe in themselves.”