Popular summer basketball camp stresses drills and fundamentals. Reggie Miller had to work extra hard this year. No, not only during the NBA playoffs, but during his basketball camp this summer where he had a turnout of almost 400 kids.

"It's grown each year. We've never gone down in numbers," explained Miller.

The number of campers varies from year to year. At his first camp, held in 1990 at Brebeuf Preparatory School, he had about 90 kids in the morning, and about 45 in the afternoon. This summer, at Park Tudor High School, he had 204 kids during the morning and 160 in the afternoon.

His camp, a day camp, a session from 8 a.m. to noon and one from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The morning session is for incoming Grades 4 through 7, and the afternoon session is for Grades 8 through 12.

On average, more fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders attend his camp than any other grade level.

The camp lasts for one week, Monday through Friday, and is usually held in the second or third week of July. The cost is $150.

Contrary to some other camps, Miller stays throughout the whole week of his camp. "I think that's probably been another reason why the campers are . . . attracted to my camp more so than others," he remarked.

Miller believes that in today's basketball, a lot of young people see the finished products of professional athletes, such as Michael Jordan's dunking and Magic Johnson's fancy passes, but they don't understand the fundamentals that it took for those pros to get to that level.

In his camp, he teaches basic drills such as footwork and how to correctly shoot and pass the ball. This way, when kids do see the finished product, they'll understand the hard work and effort that it took for those men to become such great players.

Said Miller, "No one's going to be a great player from one week of camp, but if they could take home some of the things that we . . . teach them in the stations and in the fundamental work, then I think it can help."

Travis Hampton, 13, enjoyed his first year at Miller's basketball camp. He liked doing drills most of the day, as opposed to scrimmaging all the time, as he has done in other camps.

He said Miller's camp is "learning and having fun at the same time."

Miller's camp is one of the ways he shows his concern for the kids of the community. "I always stated that if I ever made it to a professional level, when I knew I could give back to the community and help the kids out, I would do so.

"Just to see the smile on a lot of kids' faces . . . that's all it takes for me."

Sign-ups for next year's camp can be done by filling out the camp's brochure, which is available through the office of the Indiana Pacers.

EDITED BY: Matt McCrady, 15 ASSISTANT EDITOR: Kevin Schmidt, 17