Conference 7.286::boston_celtics

    My oldest boy, Alex, led his team (Raptors) to their league championship 
    last night.  They were 8-0 in the 10-13 year olds league and the first
    team in the region to go undefeated.  Alex had 15 of his team's 36 
    points (2 - 3pt, 4 FG's, 1 FT, 5 assists, 4 steals, 4 rebounds).  
    
    Mike (asst. coach & proud Dad)

    
    Must of got all his talent from his Grandfather......
    
    /Westy *^)
    
    

    Possibly, maybe that's why I named him after granddad ;-)  Of course,
    if you ask him why my boy beat him in horse over the holidays I'm sure
    he'll deny it. ;-)
    
    Mike

    SInce we're bragging about our sons, my younger son Joey finished the
    high school season for Dracut leading the team in assists (better than
    2/1 assist/turnover ratio), steals, and blocks, was second in rebounds
    and fourth in scoring.  Dracut won seven games, its best total since
    1990.  Joe is only a sophomre, and was one of the captains this season.
    Of the team's top seven players, four were sophs, so they should be
    pretty good next season.
    
    Joe was also selected to play this Firday night for a team that will
    play the New England Patriots in a charity All-Star game.
    
    NAZZ

    Does he get all his talent from his grandfather too? ;-)

    Anyone ever see Pistol Pete's instructional videos?  He has 4 out on
    shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball-handling.  I've seen the
    shooting one (borrowed from a friend) and it is impressive.
    
    Mike

    Any good summer camps for basketball out there.  My son is turning 8
    and is finally ready to learn a sport and he seems to like basketball
    best.  Any methods etc, tips?

    Don't send him to an expensive camp for at least a couple of years.  If
    there is something local that your town or one nearby does, that's
    where to start him.  Most of the bigger camps are for kids that already
    know the game and are out to test the competition or refine their
    skills.  Very few camps these days are teaching camps, especially for a
    kid as young as yours.
    
    NAZZ

Mike,

Don't the Suns offer camps? 

Locally, the Hornets have several. There's a general one for boys and
girls based on age groups. And there's advanced ones for boys and girls
who are a step ahead already as Nazz mentioned.

TTom

    The Suns don't as an organization, but some of the players - past &
    present do.  Barkley and Westphal have their own separate camps. 
    FCA has a camp too that KJ, Mark West, Andrew Lang, and AC Green always
    attend.  My son usually goes to that one.

My 4 year old loves basketball.  He is destroying his room and the play room. 
I was thinking about setting up a real hoop for him outside.

When I started, at 8, we played on a regulation height hoop which stunk.  A 
couple years later they started 4th, 5th, 6th graders on lower hoops with 
small balls for younger kids, are those hoops at 8 feet?  I was thinking of 
putting my hoop at 10 feet and putting another hoop at 6 feet (twice his 
height) for Eli with brackets to raise it every year.  Any other ideas?

He already has a plastic playschool type thing and that is not rugged enough.

Thanks,
Greg

PS - A related question ... does the 15 feet go from the free throw line to 
the front rim, the back rim, or the backboard?

    I'd go for the adjustable "elevator" poles.  We have one that
    adjusts from 7 to 10 feet (plus 1/2 foot increments in between) 
    with a broomstick.  Just had to replace the backboard after 10
    years, but the pole itself just needed a new coat of paint.  
    I'd advise getting a "slam jam" rim (spring loaded), because when
    those hoops are down, kids love to try and slam!    You can
    either go with a unit permanently cemented in the ground, or you
    can get one of the "portable" units (fill the base w/water or sand).
    In either case - it's a regulation hoop and decent backboard, which
    is all you need.
    
    andy
    

    
    I agree with Andy, use the adjustable kind.  However, to answer your
    specific question, the elementary school use 8 ft rims.  Ask me how I
    know this...
    
    Marc, Mr. Dunk at the elementary school, Mr. No Legs at the rec center
    

    My 7-year-old's 6-8's league uses 8ft rims too.