The city of Houston was very hot this past Friday, but Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt held his fourth annual ProCamps event. The sound of basketballs hitting the court filled the air. Since Vanderbilt is from Houston, he started this ProCamps event there in 2020. Kids who like basketball were able to connect with and learn from an NBA player in a very personal setting at this community event that was jam-packed with drills, games, and mentorship.

The ProCamps this year were very different from the ones last year. Even though it became more famous and more people came, it felt more organized and structured, which shows how hard Vanderbilt worked. The 2023 ProCamps were held in a bigger, better-equipped gym than the one used last year, which was smaller. The energy was electric with joy and anticipation.

A lot of the inspiration behind the ProCamps came from Vanderbilt. A lot of current and past basketball pros were there to add depth and energy to the event. Some of the stars who went were former NBA player T.J. Ford and current Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards, who was the first overall pick in 2020 and used to play for Vanderbilt.  Not only did their involvement boost morale, but it also gave the kids a better understanding of the sport.

Edwards shocked everyone by showing up at Vanderbilt’s ProCamps. He made the kids happy and showed support for his old teammate and friend.