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Russ Smith Making Grizzlies Fans in Kentuckiana

By Christian Dudley

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Mar 27, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith during practice for the midwest regional of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies’ Russ Smith has been conducting youth basketball camps in Kentuckiana while making new Grizzlies fans along the way.

The University of Louisville Cardinals have had a huge fan base.

After winning an NCAA Men’s Division-I Basketball National Championship in the 20013, there has been an explosion of popularity across the nation and Kentuckiana–the region that includes northern Kentucky and southern Indiana.

When you have marketable players, such as Russ Smith—better known as “Russdiculous”–it is not difficult to see why people have grown to enjoy and support the Cards.

Mar 12, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Toure Murry (1) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Russ Smith (2) chase a loose ball in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 107-87. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Now, Russ Smith is a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. He has trademarked his nickname. In the NBA’s recent Orlando Summer League, he took the tournament by storm–pushing the Grizz to undefeated status, where they eventually took home the championship trophy–not to mention he was the MVP of the team while being named to the All-Summer League First Team.

Russ is a winner.

He has been hosting youth basketball camps this summer throughout the Midwest–more specifically, Kentuckiana. In doing so, he has teamed up with Cards teammate Peyton Siva and others to develop children’s basketball skills.

Here is some of today’s action of Russ Smith and company in their Kentucky Camp of Champions at Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, Indiana.

The camp teaches life skills, respect for coaches and leaders, speaking up when communicating with teammates, being motivated, teamwork, and much more. It would be difficult to find a youth basketball camp that teaches kids more about the game–while demonstrating life skills–than Russ Smith’s Camp of Champions.

It is great to see Russdiculous, a class act, give back to the community–not only in Memphis, but across Kentucky and now Indiana. This will surely gain Smith many new fans as well as recruit new Grizzlies fans. Grizz Nation is alive and well, even outside of southwest Tennessee.

You can follow Russ Smith on his personal Twitter account here. For more info on the Kentucky Camp of Champions, you can reach Coach Barnett on Twitter at this link. Click here for the website to the Camp of Champions, which will give you a full rundown of what they are about.

Continue to check Beale Street Bears for the latest news, rumors, and other info of the offseason regarding your Memphis Grizzlies!

Go Grizz!

Next: Can the Grizzlies win the Southwest Division in 2015-16?

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