I talked with several folks Saturday at Myrtle Beach alum Akeem Hemingway's inaugural "Shooting for Success" basketball camp. Not all of the quotes could fit into the two stories I wrote, but some of the other things the guys had to say were interesting. Here's some bonus quotes from Hemingway, Ramon Sessions and Josh Poston:
Josh Poston, Socastee High School and Coker College graduate who played several years in the Myrtle Beach school system growing up
"We were always in the gym on the weekends. We were always outside playing at Cinema 10 [aka Midway Park]. Wherever ... you always saw those guys together. When we were in the gym, when we were playing ball, they were always together. They'd have their own little crew. That's how they rolled." - on Myrtle Beach natives Ramon Sessions and Akeem Hemingway
"Akeem's on his own path as far as basketball. He's trying to get his own career going. I think 'Mon helping him get in the gym with other guys, getting a look is going to be a good [thing]." - on Sessions and Hemingway
Ramon Sessions, Myrtle Beach native who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves
"Man, I think my game is right where I want it to be, being in my third year [having been] a guy who was the 56th pick [in the 2007 NBA draft]. There's no pressure on me like the No. 1, No. 2 pick - they have a lot of pressure on them. For me, it's just stay competitive night in and night out. Just stay solid. I'm not trying to come out and average 50. I just want to come out and help the team win."
"I was happy for him. He's been fighting this D-League thing for a while, but people don't understand there's a lot of politics involved. It's not as easy as going out there on the court and being the best player. So when he got that gig I was really happy for him and he was really happy. He got to see what it is like to play professional basketball. That's all you can ask for." - on Hemingway getting his first shot at playing professionally in Mexico
Akeem Hemingway, Myrtle Beach native who played a stint of professional basketball in Mexico this year
"Growing up, we would use milk crates, cut the bottom out. We used those for baskets ... we'd put them up on the backboard. And that was our basket. She would really get mad at us because she had the clothes line where she'd hang clothes up. And our backyard was really dusty. We'd be running back and forth getting so much dust up and getting the clothes dirty. So she'd really get mad at us. It got to the point where we'd use bicycle rims. We'd knock the spokes out of the rim. Yeah, we used those also. Kids just really wanting to play ... loving the game." - on growing up playing basketball with Sessions in his backyard while leaving his mother's washed clothes hanging in the balance
"I'd love to try the NBA Development League again, staying in the United States as opposed to playing in Tijuana and having to look over my shoulder constantly." - on his future plans
"At this point in my career, I'm getting better and I still feel great, but at the same time give back. You never forget where you came from. For example, the story about being in the yard with the milk crates ... kids want to play basketball that bad that they've got to cut the bottom of a milk crate out ... there's not more love for the game than that. So why not give back, give them an opportunity. You've got kids like that out there." - on why he did his inaugural "Shooting for Success" basketball camp
"All the time you see little things. A lot of times Ramon will say, 'I saw this happen in the game, but I wish I would have did this.' Or 'I saw something that I didn't do.' So you kind of critique yourself. Being able to watch it [together], you're kind of like 'man, I know where you're coming from.' You watch each other and you definitely learn." - on discussions about basketball with Sessions
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