The KHS boys basketball open gyms kicked off on October 30, and around 30 basketball-loving students came to the gym full of energy. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., it was all about dribbling, shooting and finding a rhythm again! The open gyms not only offer a good opportunity to work on your own skills, but also the chance to present yourself to the coaches. This is where the students lay the foundations for the upcoming tryouts and an exciting basketball season.
Led by Coach Daren Garey, the open gyms started off Wednesday with a casual warmup where everyone threw themselves in and got ready for practice. The actual training began with layup drills, followed by 1-on-1 drills, with an advantage for the attacker. The last half hour was then spent scrimmaging so that each player could put what they had learned directly into practice in the game. After warming up on Thursday, the focus was on working on various lay-up techniques and floor-spacing before getting back into the game. The atmosphere was consistently motivated and focused, and it was clear that every player wanted to give their best.
The scrimmages in the first two training sessions, in particular, generated a lot of enthusiasm among the players.
When asked, “what did you particularly like in the first two training sessions?” Omar replied: “I really liked the scrimmages and going against each other.”
The games allowed everyone to show their skills directly in competition and, at the same time, apply the techniques they had learned. The competitive atmosphere during the scrimmages encouraged everyone and players took the opportunity to challenge each other and gain valuable experience. There is still a lot to do in the next open gym sessions and certainly a lot to learn.
When asked, “What are your hopes for the next open gym sessions?” Porter replied: “My hope for the next open gym session is to have fun.” Motivation is high and everyone is looking forward to being able to shoot more shots again. Porter is also hoping for “5 on 5 basketball,” which will give all players the opportunity to improve through competition. It's also always cool to watch other people play and just pick things off their strengths.
With a total of seven training sessions remaining before tryouts, the players can not only refine their individual techniques, but also strengthen their team dynamic and further increase their anticipation for the upcoming tryouts.