Madison varsity players start basketball camp for young kids
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REXBURG — Madison High School varsity basketball players have started a camp to raise money and give back to the kids in the community.
“It’s about improving my skills, and that’s what I’ve done a lot. Just improved my shot and my ball handling,” 13-year-old participant Jantzen Marcum said.
Konner Jackson and Jaxon Edelmayer have started The Jax/Jackson Basketball Camp. It’s an idea that’s been in the works for years, but this year the teens and their families made it happen.
“They needed to have a way to earn money, and I’m like, ‘This year we’re going to do it,’” said Jaxon’s mom, Kim Edelmayer.
“They’re part of something bigger — they’re making future high school athletes.”
The teens have planned to attend at least 15 basketball camps this summer. So far they’ve been to camps in Idaho and Utah, and plan to go to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Anaheim, California.
“I think Jaxon’s slept in his bed maybe five times this summer because they’ve been at college coaches’ camps and high school coaches’ camps,” Jaxon’s mother, Kim Edelmayer said.
Although the money they’ve raised so far has gone toward additional basketball training, they said the most valuable part of the camp is coaching the kids. They’re currently coaching kids from ages 6 to 14.
“We just try to instill that love for the game. That’s how you become better. You’ve got to love it first. We just try to have fun,” Konner said.
Jaxon said they teach the kids basic basketball skills and techniques and practice various drills. He said he’s already seen the kids make improvements in their form and their ability to take criticism.
“We wanted to give back what we’ve learned and what we’ve experienced,” Jaxon said. “Ball handling, that’s what we really work on — shooting, all the fundamentals.”
Konner, towering at 6 feet 8 inches, has tried to be a coach kids can look up to in more ways than one. His mom, Christy Jackson, has enjoyed seeing Konner in a coaching role.
“It’s been fun to see him interact with the kids to encourage them and help them. It’s been really good for him to teach the kids game of basketball and not just play. There’s a big difference,” Christy said.
Kim said she’s watched Jaxon become more patient as he’s learned to coach the young boys. She wants to see both Konner and Jaxon use this experience to propel them in their dream of being great players.
“They’re part of something bigger — they’re making future high school athletes. It takes a lot of hard work and talent to do that. They’re helping them with those skills, and I think the boys have improved,” Kim said. “They want to go on to the next level and they want to see that dream be fulfilled, and they’ve got to work hard to do that.”
The Jax/Jackson Basketball camp is still accepting participants and will continuing coaching through July. For more information, contact Kim Edelmayer through Facebook or at (208) 709-2231.