NBA Superstar and Olympic Gold Medalist shares knowledge during his 2019 Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy
NBA Superstar Vince Carter is a Daytona Beach native. Carter gave each student-athlete attending his annual Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy a pair of his designer basketball socks. Carter told me his week with the youth is about more than basketball. He’s helping to mold children into successful citizens and winners in life.
Photo By James P. Hill
By James P. Hill
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DAYTONA BEACH – Vince Carter is known across the world as a basketball phenom out of Daytona Beach Mainland High School. Carter’s acrobatic high-flying slam dunks often leave fans in awe, captivated, and mesmerized. The 42-year-old Carter is gearing up to play his final season in the National Basketball Association. July 15th thru 19th Carter took time out of his off season schedule to conduct his annual Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
“The opportunity to host for many years now has been a dream come true. I think any professional player can come back to their hometown, their high school and host and provide for the community they will do it,” Carter said while he sat in front of a trophy case with his retired MHS Buccaneers jersey and the 1995 FHSAA Class 6A State Championship trophy.
“It makes it even more special when your best friend is here to celebrate that championship with you. Now he’s the head coach here and it all comes full circle. It’s just great to do some great things here not only in Daytona but in this building.”
A building known as the Vince Carter Athletic Center is where his hoop dreams were cultivated. The VCYBA uses the basketball platform to express the importance of education, fitness, and work ethic as cornerstones for success in life with student-athletes ages 7 thru 17.
“In the basketball academy we feel like were teaching you the entire machine. The life skill, the educational part of it, the preparation, all that stuff matters as a young student-athlete trying to step into the athletic world,” Carter said.
FAMILY ATMOSPHERE
Joe Giddens is the Mainland High School boys varsity basketball coach and a personal friend of Vince Carter. They are former Bucs teammates from the 1995 FHSAA Basketball Class 6A state championship team. This annual academy means a lot to Giddens.
“To be here to be a part of it is awesome. To come back and be the head coach is even better. It’s just amazing,” Giddens the former B-CU student-athlete said. “Vince come back here and talk to the guys and get back in the gym you can’t beat it.”
VCYBA SUCCESS STORIES
Darius Devine is a student-athlete heading to college to study athletic training. Devine believes his experiences with the VCYBA will help him going forward in life.
“I came to this camp 4 or 5 years ago and it’s still completely the same, people learning and I’m really proud of that,” Devine said. “Coming back here and watching all of the kids grow up and stuff like really put a smile on my face. I used to be them.”
Each camper received basketball workouts, tee shirts, specialty socks, backpacks, and basketball player evaluations. Student-Athletes attended the academy from Arizona, Brazil, Florida, Memphis, Mississippi, New Jersey, and other places respectively.
THE VINSANITY GIFT OF GIVING BACK
Carter is still very much tied to his hometown community. His Embassy of Hope Foundation started back in 1998 by the NBA star. The non-profit charitable organization was founded to help address the needs of children and their parents.
Carter plans to continue his annual Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy after he retires from the NBA in Daytona Beach. The summer camp is open to boys and girls 7 to 17 at the Vince Carter Athletic Center, located at Mainland High School.
“When you walk in these doors on Monday morning were hoping you leave out of here on Friday a different kid,” Carter said. “We want your parents to feel that, and that’s why we open the doors to the family on Friday.”
Vince Carter works out student-athletes during his annual Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy in Daytona Beach. During the 2018-19 NBA season Carter played in 76 games for the Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 7.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, and 1.1 assists per contest in 17.5 minutes of action. Vince Carter also mentors teammates and NBA players who want to learn from his successful journey.
Vince Carter jumped and slam dunked over 7-foot-2 inch French Center Frederic Weis during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Team USA captured the Gold medal by a final score of 85 -75. Vince Carter lead Team USA in scoring with 14.8 points per game on the worlds biggest international athletic stage.
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