McCarthy basketball camps expanded

by Scott Sacry

One of the most popular summer camps in the Bitterroot Valley is the annual McCarthy Basketball Camp, run by Hamilton’s Frank McCarthy. In years past the camp has been only one week in one location. This year the camp has expanded to four weeks in four different locations: Darby, Hamilton, Florence, and Stevensville. 

The first camp was in Darby on June 10-13 and the second camp was in Hamilton from June 17-20. The final two camps will be in Florence on July 11-12 and in Stevensville on July 15-18.

“People kept requesting that we do a camp in their town,” said McCarthy, “but it didn’t work out in years past. This year we were able to book four locations and bring the camp to four communities. The first two camps were a great success! We had 110 kids in Hamilton and 55 in Darby. The people in Darby were really appreciative and thankful that the camp was in Darby so they didn’t have to travel to another town.”

McCarthy began coaching basketball in 1979 at the St. Labre Indian School, then coached at MSU-Billings for 10 years, MSU for two years, then spent the last 16 years of his career at Sheridan College in Wyoming. From there his family moved to the Bitterroot Valley. 

McCarthy has taken his lifetime of basketball knowledge and applied it toward his camps. The camp is a family affair for the McCarthys, as Frank’s wife Amy and their kids, Taylor, Jake and Luke, help out with the camps. “The kids have been around the camps for so long they know how it’s run,” said McCarthy. “They are a great help.”

The McCarthy camps focus on two main themes: helping the campers be better basketball players and helping the campers be better people. 

Campers practice basketball fundamentals like shooting, passing, jump stops, defense, and rebounding. 

They also learn the importance of looking someone in the eye, giving a good handshake, and having good manners. They learn the importance of having a good attitude, practicing gratitude, and pursuing goals and dreams.

“I enjoy teaching life lessons to the kids,” said McCarthy. “At their best, sports make athletes better overall people. The top coaches make this connection.” 

And it is clear to see that McCarthy understands and implements this connection in his camps.

McCarthy is quick to thank others. “We have some great sponsors to keep the cost down. And as always we have a great group of coaches who do a fabulous job teaching and creating a positive environment for the kids.”

There are two McCarthy camps left this summer: one in Florence on July 11-12, and one in Stevensville on July 15-18. The camps are filling up, but walk-ins on the day of the camp are always welcome. For more information go to www.mccarthybasketballcamp.com.