PILOT MOUNTAIN — Pilot Mountain Middle School is holding its second-annual Champion Skills Camp in July for youth basketball players.

The four-day camp will have morning sessions for boys and girls, ages 8-11. Then an afternoon session will be for boys only, ages 12-15.

The camp runs July 16-19 with morning sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and afternoon times from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The cost of attending either morning or afternoon is $65, but there is a $5 discount for early registration (by June 25). The fee includes a camp T-shirt.

“Champion Skills Camp was created … in an effort to give an opportunity to young athletes in the Surry County area,” said T.C. Gammons, the former Gentry Middle School coach who started the camp with Lee Martin, a current Catawba College player.

“Not only will the athletes learn about the fundamentals of basketball, they will also learn qualities including leadership, teamwork and what it takes to succeed at the next level,” Gammons said.

“One unique aspect of this camp is the classroom sessions that offer thinking beyond the court,” he said. “Each athlete will be taught reading the defense, changing the angle of a pass, techniques to get open, reading screens, shooting, and much more. This camp is for all levels of athletes who want to learn to play at the best of their abilities.”

Martin was a three-time all-conference player for North Surry. He is a rising senior at Catawba, playing both starter and sixth-man roles this past season.

Gammons said other coaches and college players will be assisting the camp during the week.

The camp will have a snack bar available for campers.

For more information, contact Gammons at 710-7862 or tgammons109@rams.wssu.edu.