BROOKLYN, NY, June 25, 2007 -- This week, the Gatorade New York Knicks Summer Basketball Camp with apparel by Game Over, kicked off the first of five sessions with a foray into Brooklyn, the only one to date. Camp was held at the sparkling, well-equipped Aviator Sports and Recreation Complex. And if the joyful noise and boundless enthusiasm of the sixty-plus campers, ages 7-18, were any indication, the present looks good while the future appears limitless.

“It’s the 16th consecutive year for Knicks Basketball Camp,” said Knicks Director of Field Marketing and Community Relations Dan Gladstone. “But this first season in Brooklyn is particularly big for us. We are trying to establish ourselves in this borough. We’ve produced many one-day clinics and Groove Truck appearances here, but this is our first sponsor affiliated-paid program. We also have community scholarships for kids who want to attend but can’t afford it. Camp will be highlighted by top notch basketball, including visits from David Lee, John Starks, Micheal Ray Richardson and Assistant Coach Mark Aguirre, this week.”

“And the Aviator facility & very professional staff here, which is of course a partner with Madison Square Garden, is just unbelievable.” The 60 campers worked with ten counselors, a one-to-six ratio of individual attention that’s exceptional even for the Knicks. “We are trying to make a great impression that we are a high-level instructional camp,” said Gladstone.

An interesting novel feature this summer is that each of the four sessions will focus in on a particular aspect of basketball for the entire week. “This first session is all about offensive skills and understanding of the game,’’ said Gladstone. “We thought that type of intense focus on each area would help in the players’ concentration and accelerate their rate of improvement.”

About a dozen parents were witnessing all the fun from the sidelines. “This is my son Justin’s fourth year in Knicks camp,” Lynette Brown, holding 11-month old future camper Jada, said. “He’s been coming here since he was eight years old and he thinks it’s the bomb. In fact, he thinks he’s one of the Knicks. He just loves the whole thing and it does work: he’s so much improved.”

The noise from the adjoining ice-rink was coming from opening day of the New York Rangers Camp. “Everybody has received a Rangers shirt and we just had a visit from (one-time Rangers great) Nick Fotiu,” Director of Fan Development Leon Friedrich said. “The kids are having a great time. It’s been an awesome first day.”

The Knick campers’ first day was made even awesome-r by a lengthy afternoon visit by forward David Lee. Following a quick hello to all, each camper lined up for a personalized autograph (or six) by David, often accompanied by a smiling picture. Many of the kids took the opportunity to ask a question as well: “Which is the best team in the NBA?” “The Spurs. They’ve got Tim Duncan and they’ve been playing together so long each player knows exactly what the other will do in a particular situation. It’s all about ‘team’ with that team.” “Who’s toughest player for you to guard?” “Probably Dirk Nowitzki. He’s got all the skills and he’s so tall he’ll shoot over you.” “Do you think Kobe will end up on the Knicks?” “Frankly, no. It’s very difficult to put a trade at that level together.”

Anyway, Lee thinks the Knicks as presently constructed “have a chance to be great. The sky’s the limit. We absolutely need to make the playoffs next season.”

“Like San Antonio, we just need the chemistry over time built together,” added Lee. “Because we have the talent.”

For More information or to sign up for Knicks Summer basketball camp call (877) NYK-DUNK or click here.