The Memphis Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks made an impact on the court as an NBA rookie. Now he looks to make an impact within the city’s youth.
Dillon Brooks has been one of the top rookies in one of the deepest rookie classes in NBA history. He was perhaps the brightest spot of the Memphis Grizzlies’ season.
However, Dillon is not done pushing forward. He has one more item to check off his list prior to thinking about his sophomore season.
After making his mark in all 82 regular season games, Brooks looks to impact the city of Memphis’ youth at Hickory Hill Community Center.
Of course basketball will be on the skill development menu; however, life skills will also be incorporated into the two-day camp hosted by the former Oregon Duck.
More specifically, “being a great teammate, respecting each other, defense, passing, shooting, spacing, dribbling, discipline, and hard work,” states Dillon Brooks, will be promoted.
Dillon was inducted into the NBA nearly one year ago via the NBA Draft. He was a high-value selection with the 45th overall pick, originally made by the Houston Rockets. The Memphis Grizzlies came away with a steal on Draft Night by dealing for Brooks.
In performing as strongly as Dillon Brooks did as a first-year player — playing in every game and starting 74 times — it would have been hard to predict this level of success for any second round pick.
Now, “DB” is hosting his own camp for the kids that look up to him the most.
“It means everything to me. I really enjoy working with kids because they are our future,” explains Brooks. “Bringing joy into a kid’s life puts a smile on my face. The community of Memphis has been a huge support to my success and its only right I gave back to the youth.”
It was not just the newfound fame after a stellar season that urged the Memphis Grizzlies’ starting small forward to schedule a summer camp in Memphis.
“I knew as soon as I got to the NBA,” answered Dillon after being asked at what point he realized he wanted to one day host his own youth basketball camp.
“I’ve already hosted one of my own camps in New Brunswick and appeared as a guest at a camp in Nova Scotia, both of which are in Canada.”
June 16th will mark the beginning of the first Dillon Brooks Basketball Camp to take place in Shelby County. If No. 24’s rookie season is any indication, this will be far from his last camp.
Brooks can relate to kids wanting to attend basketball camps in the summer season. He participated in several while growing up.
“As I got older, I attended the LeBron James Skills Academy. That is the only NBA player-camp I attended. I did attend multiple camps throughout my childhood,” Dillon tells Beale Street Bears.
One season into his NBA career, “DB” is already a Grizz fan favorite. He knows what it is like to look up to an NBA player. During his childhood days, Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter were his favorites.
Dillon can especially relate to Carter nowadays. He witnessed VC’s greatness with the Toronto Raptors while growing up in Canada. More extensively, it is almost as if Vince — a former Grizzly small forward — passed the torch to Brooks in 2017. Carter exited Memphis as “DB” made his entrance.
Perhaps your child is the young Dillon Brooks in a reoccurring scenario. This camp is a cannot-miss opportunity if you are in the Memphis area. Dillon is delighted that kids are now starting to want to be Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies.
“It means everything to me that kids look up to me. Hopefully I can inspire some to follow their dreams and passions. Whether it is basketball or anything else in the world. I want kids to know, with a lot of hard work and the right attitude, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.”
Dillon also hints at a possible guest appearance at his upcoming camp, but says “I can’t say who. You have to be there to see for yourself. I hope to see the whole city of Memphis on June 16th.”
Additional Dillon Brooks Basketball Camp information:
- Cost: $175
- Who: boys and girls, ages 6-17
- Where: Hickory Hill Community Center (Memphis, Tennessee)
- When: June 16th (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM) & 17th (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM), 2018
Memphis , TN sign up for my first camp ! Sign up at https://t.co/rhn44UGGxi @proskillsbball pic.twitter.com/RBCA2NxIPd
— Dillon Brooks (@dillonbrooks24) May 15, 2018
As featured in the above message shared by Dillon Brooks via his personal Twitter account, interested parties can register for the camp at this link. Be sure to give him a follow on social media in addition to registering your young one(s) for this awesome hoops summer camp.
Go Grizz!