In each session, the participants will receive one on one skill instruction, develop and perfect skills, moves and the knowledge it takes to not only succeed, but excel as premier basketball players. Fundamentals such as reading the defender, defensive positioning, offensive moves, ball handling and shooting will be worked on. Our guard and post camps teach the essentials of each position. These camps can be attended by players in any position. Total court knowledge is the key to success!
The goal of the camp is to provide intensive training. All participants should have a working knowledge of the game, team play and competition. One on one and two on two training is the key. Although there will be some competition, this camp is about total development. Check Ball!!!
Nakia Sanford has always had a desire to be a part of something special. Whenever the chance arose, she pushed herself to the forefront of success. A native of Gwinnett County, Nakia attended South Gwinnett High School and was an integral part of the 1995 team. That special team was ranked #1 in the state, compiled a 33-0 record and captured the Class AAAA Championship. Nakia attended the University of Kansas where her Jayhawks soared and went to the NCAA every year during her tenure. In 1998, they reached the NCAA Sweet 16 after capturing the Big 12 Championship.
Never one to rest, Nakia persevered and has spent the last three years with the Washington Mystics. 2004 was Nakia’s best year as a professional. She started in 29 contests and aided the Mystics in reaching the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. Currently, Nakia is ranked #16 in blocks and #1 in free throws attempts per 40 minutes. In her WNBA off season, Nakia has made her mark overseas starring in Korea and Belgium.
Having a desire to mentor and teach young people about what it takes to succeed in life and in basketball, Nakia started the Betty Ann Robinson Foundation, where she participates in speaking engagements and community appearances. Now she is taking you on, its time to Check Ball!
Partial proceeds to benefit:
The South Gwinnett Tip Off Club and Betty Ann Robinson Foundationthe first half of my life...
So many of you may wonder why i am the way I am, or How I was before, or where I came from... well, here's my life story so far... so just sit back, and hopefully, you can stay along on the dangerous dreadful ride, called My Life...
I was born in Nicaragua, in a small town called Esteli. Its a country in Central America *often mistaken as South America*. Its not a economically-strong country, we are a farming people, i guess you could say. I'm not ashamed where I come from. I love everyone... that just ME... Anyway, i was adopted when i was about 3 months or so. my parents almost could not get me....Legally anyway. It was during a time of revolution in my country, The Sandinistas *a rebel army for the people* were fighting against the Contra *an American-aided army led by Samosa* Reagan was the b*****d who tried to invade my country and take it over... But an army of only 800 or so people, defeated marines and Contra... . Anyway, we were lucky, my mom and dad JUST signed the papers in time. about an hour or so more and the Sandinista government would no longer exist.
My mother had to go back to the states to work and my father wanted to see the US. so i stayed with my aunty Chilo. a few months later my mom came back and got me, and we went to New York. I was raised there till 9. The years i spent growing up in New York, in a place called The Bronx, within a community in Parkchester, were s**t... U may think i dont remember exactly because the general assumption is that someone cant remember that far back...well...I do. I used to be a real a*****e. I'd steal, get into fights...i even had a 'gang' *as far as a band of rag-tag kids with the urge to fight and kill went* there were about 16 of us. I'd never forget the horrible things i did. I almost killed two people, And i didnt feel any remorse at all...that's the thing that scared me the most.. How could i not have a second-thought about taking some person's kids' life away?
There were fun times though. All the christmas times where there was a s**t load of snow in the streets. Me and my dad and mom would go out to the 'circle' as we called it, and we would jump and make snow angels and throw snowballs at each other...we filmed it. I loved all the nights when it would be pouring rain and Raging thunder and lightning over head which illuminated the entire night sky, The street lights would leave an orange-purplish glow in the sky and you'd see all the rain drops pounding the streets and the window. I remember i'd sit fascinated, perplexed by this wonderful phenomenon. *those who know me know how much i love rain*, me and my dad and mom would take our bikes downstairs and ride around the bronx while it stormed... I loved it..Every minute of it...
Things began changing when i was 5. One night out of the blue, i started hearing things, and seeing things...things that would only be seen after much exposure to grouesome horror movies and war... but i was only five, and it starte Suddenly one night that i was sleeping... I heard people screaming for help, i'd see decapitated bodies, blood on the walls...things like that. And as far as I know, there was no trigger for this... this also changed me... my father started drinking, and mom was out all the time working. yeah, he'd abuse me.... *not in the way you think* but yeah, he'd hit me and stuff. my mom was usually never home to see it. i learned math from my dad...thats why i'm not good at it... I guess you could say it's an emotional block. I'm afraid to get a problem wrong, cus in my mind i suddenly picture him with the *faja* or *belt* yelling at me... There were nights when my mom WAS home, that we'd have to hurry and get our stuff before my dad heard us in order to escape...because when he got mad...he got MAD.
a few years later. my sister, who always called and asked me if i wanted to go to nicaragua to visit her *since i never met her in person* i'd always say No. my dad went to Nicaragua for a couple of weeks because my sister *Gabby* was sick. one night at about 3 in the morning, we got a phone call. i still remember it...it was raining out side, and wind was raging. my dad said "come now, pack your things... Gabby died... I could not accept it, and my mind automatically pushed it aside. we got on the plain, and got to nicaragua..the days that followed, I saw my father lose it.. It was like watching a friend close to you lose control but u not being able to do anything but watch as their world come crashing down on them. It was heart-wrenching, seeing my father, A strong man, Cry, and drink, just drink it all away. He hoped it would numb it, but he couldnt. he always hung out with his other daughter *Azalea* my older sister, and he gave her more than he gave Gabby. He felt an unbelieveable amount of guilt... his brother and his sisters tried calming him down, but all he could find instead of sanctuary was more pain. 2 days later we had the funeral... and my dad had officialy lost it..in a blink of an eye. he changed.... My dad then said "sam, come here" he grabbed me, and lifted me up... he said "look, there's your sister" i saw her face for the first and only time. it was pure white. she looked as if she were in shock... I was terrified.. truthfully.. i didnt have any sense to make of it. and my mother and the rest of his family was yelling for him to put me down and leave me alone... he let me go, and I ran to the one person i'd least expect. My older sister *who's now 22*, i never really talked to her.. but at that moment, we forged a bond that was stronger than steel. I jumped on her and held her close.. i didnt want to let go... i just cried, and she did too. everyone did.
after that, my grandma died, and my best friend Dante was murdered about a year later... it was like being stabbed over and over again, every day of my life. Then i just snapped..i couldnt take it... i began hating everything and everyone..i didnt want to waste my breath on people... so i stopped talking for 2 years. Then one day, my mom whisked my away. my father drove us to the airport. he was crying. he didnt want us to leave. i had no idea where we were going. but you know, as a kid, you dont have a say in the matter against adults... we unloaded our things, and we were walking into the terminal. i remember looking back, and seeing my dad punching the steering wheel, grabbing his hair and pulling...tears coming down his face. he looked up at me, and said "i love you son", he then drove away...fast. i hated my mom for that....Hate was an understatement. it wasnt till we were on the plain till i found it where we were going. Hawaii...
my mother's original plan was to stay here a couple of months until my father changed his habits. but he couldnt...then one day she made THE phone call... she said "gerardo, I'm sorry, but you havent lived up to your promise. Me and sam are going to live here now" then she hung up....it felt like things were closing in, and it didnt help that my mom enrolled me to Horizons...a s**t school... but one in which i'd later find resolution. so i woke up for my first day of school in hawaii... my mom drove me..still not speaking. i got off, at a house-looking building in Haiku. i was nervous, i was taken from one world, and dropped into one i didnt even know. So i walked in through the door. and i saw these kids, speaking this 'pigeon' that i didnt know. a year later. i met this girl Camille. Who would change me forever. she was my first love here in hawaii...then, the end of the year came....and we both got emotional as we had to say goodbye, and it was unspoken, but we knew we'd never see each other again, for a LONG time.... that threw my world into a tumble again.. at this time, we had been living here for about a year.
things didnt look good for me, until i was about 12. I had new friends, I was surprisingly popular with the girls, and I was smiling for the first time since... at 13 i met new friends that would stay with me till the end.. Justin Robinson, Kaimana Jones *my brother, as he said he was*, Andrew Driscoll, Charley Cameron, Kirra Justo, Katie lillis, Alea Salzer, Lily DelBeato, Ian Cooper, Ian Ensign, Ian Seitz, Makai, Gabe Abrams, Britny Morris, Ashley Carrera, and Whitney Boren. and more... The funny thing is, Justin, and Ian Ensign, I could not stand when i first started, They were my bitter enemies...but, years later. we're the best. they helped me through it all...
i got lots of girlfriends, and i lost a lot... I realized...i was being used, over and over again... girls didnt go out with me because of who i was...but for something else which i still dont know. I felt worthless again... so yeah, i started cutting. and i got into Rap thinking it'd help me.. well...it didnt. so my brother Kai, and my friend Star, got me into rock. and since then, i've stuck with it. It identifies with me perfectly. And yes, i became 'emo'... but so what? there's nothing wrong with it.
Now i'm 17, but...i still feel like s**t... I dont know why...everyday...there's always some sense of grief, of me feeling inadequate. its still so hard for me to smile and mean it...i still wish sometimes that people would just ******** accept me... i feel so hurt...yet i shouldnt.. i have friends that care right? so what's wrong? I AM a really sensitive guy...i hate it when people die, I dont like others getting hurt...yet, i'm a hypocrit too... What the hell is wrong with me? i spend my days listening to sad music, laying in bed, hating the way i look. when people call me names, it doesnt halp at all either.....
am i another victim of 21st century teen society? Am i something More? Do i have a Definite purpose? I dont know...
There's more to me than this...i'll write some more when i have time...but, i hope this gave a lot of you, the down to earth facts about me....
Hot-coolgirl7
