Spalding #TrueBelievers Camp Review

The Spalding #TrueBelievers Camp hosted by Chauncey Billups at the D1 Sports Training  facility in Highlands Ranch yesterday was a good camp. The players competed the entire day and did not allow any buddy passes. The camp is unique in Colorado not only did it offer an opportunity for 26 of the state’s top players to train and compete against each other but it also allowed club and high school coaches to attend.  Over 20 high school and club coaches attended a luncheon provided by Ready, Fit, Go  where Denver Nuggets Strength and Conditioning Coach Steve Hess, Chef D Pure, and Chauncey Billups  spoke to the coaches on various topics.  

Players also got a chance to understand how important nutrition is to their overall performance from Chef D Pure. During lunch  players got an opportunity to experience RX Sports Recovery as well as Muscle Pharm products through out the day.

The camp wasn’t the typical camp that has been here in the past in Colorado. Usually camps divide attendees  into teams o play five on five after a short “skills” session.  This camp was big on 3 on 3 drills and competition. Extensive work was done on pick and roll situations, pin downs and other concepts to score.

 Sometimes when players as accomplished as Billups lend their name to a camp it’s merely a publicity deal, not with Billups.  While Nick Graham, Eric Valerio, and other instructors  did a great job working the players. Big Shot was clearly in charge directing and instructing the campers.

Training Aids

A core piece of the camp was the use of the Spalding training aids. Most of which are found here and more will  be available in October. The aids were incorporated seamlessly into drills and skills portions of the camp.

Speakers

Steve Hess is a ball of energy. He speaks fast and with passion. Hess touched on a number of subjects from being authentic as a coach  to making sure that coaches  need to understand why they are training players the way that they are – what are the intended results.  Training is a science with so many variables and that each player has their own needs.

Chef D Pure knows and understands the importance of nutrition. A proper nutritional plan leading up to a game can mean the difference in victory or defeat.  Chef D told coaches that the traditional pasta /carbo loading meal the night before the big game may not be the best idea and  that meals like that should take place two days before the game.  Chef D says it isn’t just what you eat but when you eat it that matters.

Billups was frank and up front with the coaches. ” Being first team all-state from Denver isn’t good enough”, said Billups. He encouraged coaches to not be soft with their players and to hold them accountable when it comes  competitiveness. Billups said that skill wise that Colorado players are just as skilled as other players in other major metropolitan areas but the biggest differences exist in mind-set, toughness and competitiveness.  He says that both high school and club coaches have to coach their players hard so that the players will be ready for the rigors of the circuit and the life of college basketball player.