Camp is next month at Avoca Central School JULY 13 thru 17
by Bill Collmer, Hornell Sun Senior Sports Writer
AVOCA-The popular Shoot the Lights out basketball camp will return to Avoca Central School for its 20th year; this year’s camp will be held from Monday July 13th-Friday July 17th from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Camp is open to both boys and girls from 4th grade-12th grade. Over the years kids have attended the camp from all over New York and Pennsylvania. Kids from Buffalo, Rochester, Canandaigua, Elmira, Horseheads, Naples, Livonia and Watkins Glen have traveled to Avoca to learn how to shoot a basketball.
The camp is directed by Section IV Hall of Fame Coach Bill Hopkins, Hopkins coached for 45 years in the Twin Tiers at various programs throughout the region. Hopkins Coached at Elmira Notre-Dame for ten years and from 1999 to 2007 at Corning East, as well as an interim head coaching position at Corning West in 1980. Coach Hopkins also coached the Thomas Edison Spartans from 1983 to 1990. Hopkins was inducted into the Section IV Hall of Fame in 2023, after racking up a total of 329 career wins as a varsity coach, plus, over 600 associated wins at various levels in the sport. He is currently an Assistant Coach at Corning for Mike Johnston Jr.
Hopkins has been directing Shoot the Lights out basketball camps for decades.
“We firmly believe that our camp is the essential catalyst for an effective in-season or off-season improvement program,” Bill Hopkins said
Several campers from the Avoca camp went on to be named New York State players of the year, Avoca alum Pacey Hopkins and Prattsburgh Graduates Macoy Putnam and Sawyer Devoe. Together they led Avoca-Prattsburgh to back-to-back State Championships in 2022 and 2023. Hopkins was the Class D player of the year in 2022 while Putnam and Devoe were Class D Co-Players of the year in 2023. Hopkins attended the Avoca Camp eight straight years.
“Every player wants to score, but only through proper technique and repetitions will the player achieve consistency as well as their personal scoring goals. We will teach players the proper fundamentals of shooting,” Hopkins added
The Horseheads girls’ varsity Basketball team has won three straight Sectional Championships in Class AA.
“The Shoot the lights out program is a great opportunity for athletes to become great shooters. Through a variety of techniques and teaching philosophies, Coach Hopkins effectively shows each individual basketball player how to become a better shooter. Coach Hopkins came to our district and ran a clinic on basic fundamentals of shooting, and also on more advanced skills and drills. The information at the clinic was very helpful and our athletes became more knowledgeable about shooting. Coach Hopkins helpful hints and pointers through individual instruction have made my players better shooters, which in turn has made us a better offensive team,” Horseheads Girls Coach Andy Scott said.
Last year’s Camper of the week at the Avoca Camp was Avoca-Prattsburgh Sophomore Meyah Putnam, Putnam was named Steuben County League MVP this past season. Another Camper Jasper-Troupsburg Freshman Leah Lawson was a first team Steuben County All-Star and was named to the Class D All-State team.
“If you aren’t a reliable shooter or scorer, you will not play the minutes you desire. Coaches love great shooters, they build offenses around great shooters, leave your coach no choice but to play you because you can shoot,” Hopkins said.
Throughout the camps entire length, each camper will shoot approximately 2,500 shots during drill work. Five days of supervised shooting establishes a measure of confidence.
The cafeteria staff at Avoca Central School provides free lunches to the campers each day. With the cafeteria under construction last summer the staff brought lunch every day from the Bath Cafeteria.
Hopkins is pleased to announce that he will host a second camp this summer at Athens high school in Athens, PA from August 3-7 (M-F) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“All we teach all week long is the fundamentals of shooting the basketball, corresponding shooting footwork and individual moves to make your son and/or your daughter a more complete basketball player. We guarantee success if your child is willing to practice these skills we teach. There are no shortcuts to shooting success. We provide the knowledge; your child puts in the work,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins also sells Shooting instructional DVD’s, copies of the DVD have been sold internationally as well as across the United States. It is recommended by nationally renowned coaches Jeff Van Gundy, John Beilen and Jay Wright.
To register for the Avoca or Athens, PA Camp please Call Coach Bill Hopkins at 607-738-5307 or e-mail shootlightsout@gmail.com
Pre-registration is encouraged but walk ins will be accepted on the opening day of camp.
