CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman High School hosted the 4th annual Stu Stuedeman Basketball Camp was hosted at Bearcat Arena this week and 75 young players came out to participate. Campers aged from kindergarten to 6th grade spent the week learning from Bearcat varsity coaches and players, competing in drills for different awards each day.
Each camper received a Cullman basketball Jersey T shirt and two players that were selected as co-campers of the week, Paxton Plourd and Wood Miner, went home with a new pair of basketball shoes. Bearcats Head Coach Stu Stuedeman remembers how special it felt to participate in camps like these when he was growing up and he wants to give that same feeling to young players in the community.
“Camp is always a fun week for our program. Getting to see our players interact with the younger generation and future Bearcat athletes is something that brings me immense joy,” Stuedeman said. “I remember when I was a kid all I wanted to be was a Vestavia Basketball player because of camp. Michael Grammas (a former Vestavia Basketball player) was so cool to me, and I thought he was bigger than Michael Jordan at the time, so I wanted to be just like him because of that relationship I forged with him at camp.”
The camp also gives the current Bearcat players an opportunity to connect with some of their biggest fans throughout the week. Stuedeman believes creating those relationships is essential to continue the growth of the program.
“Thats something I’ve always wanted to bring to the Cullman community. I want the youth to see our players as heroes and role models and thankfully we have the best players around that make that happen. They’re servant leaders who know they’re a part of something that’s bigger than any one individual and the pride they take when working with the kids makes me proud to be their coach,” Stuedeman said. “Camp is incredibly important because I want our program to be the community’s program. I want kids to grow up dreaming about one day being a Bearcat Basketball player and camp helps inspire that dream and build that connection with the community.”
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