KFS hoops camp gets pro assist

Published 12:30 pm Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Kenston Forest School hosted a successful co-ed basketball camp over the weekend that included an appearance by seven-year NBA player Reggie Williams, of Petersburg.

“It was fantastic,” said Kenston Forest Athletics Director Bart Bellairs. “Reggie did a wonderful job. … He was great with the kids. We had a lot of young kids there, which is what we were pushing for, and it was a great turnout, and a great camp.”

He said the number of total campers, which ranged from fifth- to 12th-graders, came to about 35 on Saturday as well as Sunday. Each day featured a session 1-4 p.m.

Williams, who has played for NBA teams including the Golden State Warriors and the L.A. Clippers, was present for part of Saturday’s session. He came to help out Bellairs, who coached him at the NCAA Division I level at Virginia Military Institute, where Williams led the nation in scoring two out of his four years.

At the camp, he talked about how Bellairs recruited him to play in college and how he learned what it took to succeed at a high level.

“He just stayed after practice and worked, and he talked about that,” Bellairs said. “He talked about his experience in the pros and how much he wanted it. It wasn’t easy, because he didn’t get drafted. He had to play in the (NBA) Development League. He had to play overseas, and so he talked about having to pick himself up.”

After speaking to campers, Williams stuck around for a bit to sign autographs, shoot the ball and play knockout with campers.

Not intended as a fundraiser, the camp was designed to prepare Kavaliers players for the winter season.