NBA's Wesley gives message of hope

Blake Wesley's message at the annual Camana Bay Basketball Camp went way beyond the fundamentals of basketball.

He wanted to spread a positive message to campers about life.

"Do what you want to do. Live your dream," said Wesley, a guard for the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs. "Do what makes you happy."

Wesley's appearance at the camp in July was part of a partnership between Dart and the Jr. NBA. It allows boys and girls to learn about the game from experienced coaches and NBA players, including Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Vince Carter, former NBA All-Star Nick Anderson and, in 2023, San Antonio forward Jeremy Sochan.

“We embrace this shared goal of expanding our grassroots basketball development efforts," NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said, "and providing more opportunities for Cayman youth, fans and families to learn the values of the game and importance of a healthy, active lifestyle for years to come.”

Wesley helped with drills, gave pointers and even threw down a few dunks for the campers.

"I wanted to be a part of this ... to give back to the community," Wesley said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for these kids."

Wesley is a former first-round NBA Draft pick in 2022 after starring at Notre Dame. He does camps throughout the United States, including a free youth basketball clinic in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana.

"I like to work with kids," he said, "[and] make kids happy, make them feel great." 

This article was originally published in the September/October2024 print edition of Camana Bay Times.