Rain or Shine, Camp Scores

HPHS junior teaches youngsters

Highland Park High School student Charlton Bradford hopes his basketball camp from May 26 to 29 will be a slam dunk with young players.

“It’s a great, energetic, fun environment to be around,” Charlton said. “And it gets even more fun if you bring friends.”

This will be Charlton’s fourth year hosting the camp that he started with his older brother, Harrison. Harrison is now a student at Texas A&M University, and Charlton is running the camp by himself for the second time.

“It’s really something that I look forward to every year,” he said. “I love getting to know a lot of younger kids in my area, as well as introduce as many people as I can to the game of basketball.”

Charlton aims to make sure campers stay active and have fun. He gives out rewards to keep the campers engaged and tries to give at least one prize to every child.

Inclement weather doesn’t mean camp will be cancelled. If it rains, campers can work out in an indoor gym. And on hot sunny days, they move their dunks from the court to the pool, where Charlton’s dad helps with supervision.

Last year, the camp’s pool basketball 3-on-3 tournament was a hit with young players.

“The goal’s really set low so you can dunk on the rim,” Charlton said. “It was a lot of fun splashing, and swimming, and cooling off in the heat.”

During their morning at camp, young players take breaks from basketball drills and games to enjoy drinks, snacks, and popsicles.

Charlton has been playing basketball for about a decade. He was a shooting guard on the junior varsity A team at Highland Park High School this year and will play varsity basketball as a senior.

“Basketball is a sport that I really love,” he said. “I think that I can do my part for the future of it, to get kids playing.”