Coach Sam Nichols, former coach of the McMurry Ladies Indians, will be returning for the 17th Annual Basketball Smiles Camp this year. The camps will be held June 20-22 at C.I. Gibson High School.
Since the Basketball Smiles Camp began in The Bahamas, about 10,000 Bahamian boys and girls have benefited from the free basketball camps and its life skills program.
Coach Sam Nichols was inducted into the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 1999, and retired in 2007 with over 600 career wins. He has a winning percentage of 70 over 32 years of coaching. Coach Nichols has written two basketball textbooks, and has conducted basketball clinics all over the world, including Russia and Africa. He is the most successful coach in McMurry University women's basketball history, and has guided the McMurry Lady Indians to national prominence during his 12 seasons at the school in Abilene, Texas.
In 2013, Coach Nichols, along with his 1999 team, was inducted into the McMurry University Hall of Honor. He also won several 'Coach of the Year' honors during his career.
Coach Nichols will be coming for his 17th Annual Basketball Smiles Camp from June 20-22, and will be joined by Coach Randy Thompson, vice president and director of operations for Basketball Smiles, along with Texas coaches Matt Brown, Seth Due, Adam Young, Jonathan Gibson, Kristi Gibson, Xavier Jackson, Brandon Bryant, Trovoice Jackson and Justin Hobbs.
"After nearly 40 years of basketball camps experience, I've found that a fast-paced camp with three days of high intensity, quality instruction, is the most efficient way to conduct a basketball camp," said Coach Nichols.
Basketball Smiles is sponsored in part in New Providence by The Green Parrot, Kelly's, BTC, FirstCaribbean International Bank, the Windshield House, Glass & Accessory Warehouse Ltd., the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise and the Rotary Club of East Nassau.
"This group of coaches comprise a tremendous staff of dedicated coaches with big hearts who love teaching the game of basketball. We have the largest and most experienced staff in the history of Basketball Smiles. All of these coaches raised their own money and are giving of their free time to come and work with Bahamian boys and girls. The quality of instruction will be second to none, and the love these coaches have for the campers will be second to none," said Nichols.
The motto of Basketball Smiles is: 'We bring a week of smiles and hope through basketball'.
Coach Nichols said: "Along with basketball, we conduct a daily life skills program during the camp that emphasizes self-respect, academic success, good citizenship and spiritual values. Our goal is not just to develop basketball players, but help build future leaders in The Bahamas."
Coach Nichols' itinerary will be coordinated by Coach Patricia "Patty" Johnson of the H.O. Nash Junior High School. The camps are free and will be coordinated by Johnson.
In cooperation with Coach Kevin Johnson, the camps will be held at C.I. Gibson High School. The girls camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon each day, and the boys camp will be held from 1-4 p.m. over the three days.
A number of young Bahamians are expected to take part in the 17th Annual Basketball Smiles Camp from June 20-22 at the C.I. Gibson High School. The girls camp will be held from 9a.m. to 12 noon each day, and the boys camp will be held from 1-4p.m. over the three days. (Photos courtesy of Basketball Smiles)
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