Throughout the summer, Warriors Basketball Academy, powered by Rakuten, has conducted week-long summer camp sessions, giving campers exclusive access to NBA players and high-quality coaching. These camps encourage youth of all skill levels and abilities to develop their game and learn about making a positive impact in a team environment. But the benefits aren’t just for the young hoopers, as camp coaches also gain valuable experience and insight into their development as coaches and leaders.
Staffers and coaches at Warriors Basketball Academy are vital to these young athletes' overall experience and development. The Warriors have brought in experienced basketball minds with knowledge of the game to shape the future athletes of the next generation. Their staff features young men and women who have been around the game at the pro, college, or high school level for several years.
FIRST-YEAR COACHES PERSPECTIVE ON WBA
This summer, Izadora De Oliveira, Sam Wolter and Tatyana Modawar were first-time coaches at Warriors Basketball Camp.
De Oliveira has several years of basketball coaching experience and is currently the team manager for the University of San Francisco's women's basketball team. She credits Warriors Basketball Academy for furthering her development as a coach.
"My favorite aspect is getting to work with a variety of coaches, directors, and kids," De Oliveira said. "We get to work with every age group, and I get to learn from other coaches and their coaching techniques."
Wolter, who played high school basketball through his junior year, appreciates being able to give back to the community that he was once a part of.
"My favorite aspect of coaching is giving back to the youth," Wolter said. "I know a lot about basketball and would like to pass on my passion for the game to others. These kids are willing to learn and complete the drills we give, which is a rewarding experience."
Modawar was a Division 1 basketball player at UC Santa Barbara. What stands out to Modawar about Warriors Basketball Camp is the diversity of its campers.
"These camps truly embrace the diversity of the Bay Area and are welcoming to everyone," Modawar said." It has truly been an honor to give back to the game and teach the next generation of young hoopers.”
Despite their experience at other basketball camps, the consensus takeaway is how extraordinary and unique this experience is.
"What stands out is the level of professionalism and communication given to both the coaches and the campers — also, the level of camaraderie," Wolter said.
"The atmosphere is so inviting and fun all day," De Oliveira said. "The directors are always super involved with the kids and us coaches. Campers learn the power of sportsmanship and maintaining a positive attitude. That energy is contagious and it will carry out on whatever they go on to do in their lives."
WORKING WITH NBA PLAYERS
During an overnight camp in June, current Warriors players Kevon Looney, Moses Moody and Gary Payton II made guest appearances and interacted with 160 campers from around the world. Camp staff had the opportunity to coach alongside these players, who also helped with drills and participated in Shoot 360 competitions. Shoot 360 uses technology that measures and tracks shooting percentage, accuracy, shot arc, and shot depth.
In addition to Looney, Moody and Payton, former Warriors players Tom Tolbert, Nemanja Bjelica, Chris Chiozza, Anthony Lamb and Ryan Rollins also visited various sessions of Warriors Basketball Camp this summer. On July 19., at the Warriors Basketball Facility in Oakland, Bjelica and Chiozza were presented with their 2022 NBA Championship rings by a pair of campers.
These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that campers and staff can cherish forever.
Former Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson is one of three former Warriors Basketball Academy campers to play in the NBA, joining Will Cherry and Tyler Johnson. Toscano-Anderson was the first former camper to play for the Warriors and win an NBA Championship.
FALL ONE-DAY SPECIALITY CLINICS
With the final week of summer upon us, Warriors Basketball Academy will transition to its fall slate of clinics. Throughout the fall, the team will host one-day clinics catering to a player’s specific basketball needs. These clinics are held across the Bay Area, including at the Warriors Basketball Facility in Oakland, the former practice facility of the Golden State Warriors. Youth who attend clinics at the Oakland facility get the unique opportunity to play on the same courts where many current and former Warriors greats played, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. For more information, visit gswacademy.com.
With access to some of the premiere players and coaches in the sport, Warriors Basketball Academy, powered by Rakuten, provides a unique experience to shape the next generation of coaches, athletes and people.