Boston Celtics veteran guard and unofficial team captain Marcus Smart announced today he has had to cancel his summer YounGameChanger basketball camps on Twitter.
The youth training camps, always wildly popular with the Texan’s young fans, would have been entering their sixth season.
“As I’m sure you’ve probably heard, due to the … circumstances with COVID, we’re going to have to cancel all camps this year in Texas and Boston,” related Smart in a short video post. “I truly do apologize.”
Smart, who was one of the most high-profile members of the NBA to have yet come down with the infection behind the pandemic forcing the closure of this and many other such events, isn’t giving up entirely on the camps.
A message from Marcus and Kenny (YGC Director) about the cancellation of all YGC Summer 🏀hoops🏀 camps and the alternative YGC Virtual Hoops Camp to be held in late summer or fall. Also, the possibility of a mini camp in July in FM, TX. Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/tziAqPlujf
— YGC Hoops Academy (@YGCHoops) May 20, 2020
YounGameChanger partner Kenny Boren instead revealed a plan to take the camps online.
“Due to the COVID situation, we’re going to cancel the Boston and Texas camps just to keep everybody safe, follow all state, local and federal laws. But, we do have a back-up plan,” he began.
“In the works right now is a virtual camp that Marcus and I are planning on putting on in late summer or the fall. That’ll allow you guys really across the globe — not just Texas and Boston — you’ll be able to participate in a one-day virtual camp with Marcus that will include all the swag and gear and handouts that we always do at his elite camps.”
“It’s one of the best camps that we put on,” added Boren. “We’ll get back to you with the details on that; it’s going to be a little different — but it’ll be just as awesome, that’s for sure.”
Charania: Smart to donate blood plasma for research to fight COVID-19 https://t.co/XxqbsXBOOv
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 1, 2020
It will of course take some time to retool such a significant undertaking to work in a virtual format.
But, like many of us educating in different ways, online classes (or in this case, camps) are the only safe way to share important knowledge and experiences without putting others unnecessarily at risk.
“So, although we have to cancel the summer camps due to COVID, we’ve got bigger plans coming up,” noted the camp director, “we’re not going to leave you hanging for a year.”
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