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NBPA and Five-Star Basketball Team Up to Host First-Ever Virtual Basketball Camp

NBPA and Five-Star Basketball Team Up to Host First-Ever Virtual Basketball Camp

The NBPA x Five-Star Virtual Basketball Camp will feature Tobias Harris, Hassan Whiteside, future NBPA Members Cole Anthony and James Wiseman, as well as former NBPA Member Tony Allen.


NEW YORK, NY, August 20, 2020 – The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and Five-Star Basketball announced today that they will collaborate to host a 3-day virtual basketball camp from August 24-26. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the virtual camp is designed to help boys and girls from ages 9-17 develop their skills both on and off the court without leaving their homes.

The daily three (3) hour camp will be streamed exclusively on CoStar and virtual instruction will be led by experienced NBPA grassroots coaches, skill trainers as well as past, present and future NBPA Members, all working to help young athletes develop a complete game on and off court.

In the absence of group training exercises, this virtual camp will be geared toward individual skill development related to shooting, dribbling and conditioning. The virtual camp will also include an educational component that will introduce campers to the topic of financial literacy, which will be presented by current NBPA Vice President Malcolm Brogdon, as well as other life skills. Through a strategic partnership with Banzai, a national leader in youth financial education, the NBPA will provide on-going learning opportunities for campers to sharpen their off-court skills once the camp concludes. Additionally, clinicians from the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) will lead daily injury prevention and wellness sessions for all camp participants.

Campers will also receive exclusive NBPA kits that will include an NBPA mask and an NBPA x Five-Star uniform by Champion, a valued partner of the NBPA. As part of skill instruction, coaches and trainers will be using the Spalding NBPA Players’ Basketball, the official basketball of the NBPA x Five-Star Virtual Basketball Camp.  Additional sponsors of the NBPA x Five-Star Virtual Basketball Camp include HSS, the official hospital of the NBPA, Panini and 2K.

For more information of the NBPA x Five-Star Virtual Basketball Camp, visit nbpa.com/summercamp. For more information on CoStar, visit costarexperience.com or download the CoStar app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

 "With many youth basketball programs being temporarily halted, we have been innovating and establishing our new online strategy where virtual grassroots programs will temporarily replace live experiences to support our players and provide a positive impact for the lives of youth and their families,” said Chris Jean, Senior Director of Grassroots Basketball & Events for THINK450, the for-profit arm of the NBPA. “Partnering once again with historic Five-Star Basketball to produce a camp is our way of connecting on the grassroots level while building an online community of players, coaches, trainers, educators and youth across the globe."

“Get ready for three days and nine hours of action-packed learning from some of the game's best teachers, including Five-Star's world-class stations and big-time NBPA Member appearances,” said Peter Robert Casey, Vice Chairmen of Five-Star Basketball. “While the setting may have changed, the teaching never stops."

"I grew up playing basketball in New York City and going to those Five-Star basketball camps really helped me learn the fundamentals and improve my game” said Tobias Harris, an alumnus of the Five-Star Basketball camp. “It is great to see the NBPA and Five-Star come together for a virtual basketball camp during this time and I am excited to help these young athletes develop their skills."

Trent Sydney, CEO of CoStar added, “CoStar is excited to be hosting the NBPA's Grassroots program online. Through the use of our FanCast technology, we are thrilled to be bringing campers, coaches and players back to the court and closer than ever. “

All media inquiries should be directed to communications@nbpa.com.


About the NBPA

The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, or counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members, the NBPA Foundation provides support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations around the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need.

About THINK450

THINK450 is the for-profit subsidiary of the NBPA, focusing on innovative business opportunities in various industries including, content & media, grassroots events, licensing, marketing and technology— among others. In representing every current NBA player, THINK450 partners with leading companies and brands to help its members capitalize on the unparalleled value they bring as cultural influencers and community leaders. For more information, visit THINK450.com.

 About FIVE-STAR:

Over 54 years strong. Over 250,000 alumni and counting. Since 1966, Five-Star has been the undisputed leader in basketball instruction. Founded as the first-basketball specific training camp, Five-Star’s high-intensity curriculum, world-class teaching stations, and competitive gameplay are designed to foster fundamental skill development and help players maximize their potential. The camp’s list of playing and coaching alumni — including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Bob Knight, Hubie Brown, John Calipari, Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan — are a Who’s Who of Basketball Royalty.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal computers and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union and Cloud Chamber. 2K’s portfolio currently includes the renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia and XCOM® franchises; NBA® 2K, the global phenomenon and highest rated* annual sports title for the current console generation; the critically acclaimed Sid Meier’s Civilization® series; the popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, as well as emerging properties NBA® 2K Playgrounds 2, Carnival Games and more. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2k.com.

* According to 2008 – 2020 Metacritic.com

About Spalding

SPALDING® is the largest basketball equipment brand in the world. SPALDING® is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA Final Four. The SPALDING® trademark is owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

About Panini

The Panini Group established more than 50 years ago in Modena, Italy, has subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for NFL, NFLPA, NBA, MLBPA, College, FIFA, MLBPA, Disney, Epic Games and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini is also the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. Panini has distribution channels in more than 100 countries and employs a staff of over 800. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or http://blog.paniniamerica.net/. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

About Champion®

For more than 100 years Champion Athletic wear has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women including activewear, sweats, tees, sports bras, team uniforms and accessories. Champion uses innovative design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure uncompromised quality and innovative apparel for its consumers. Champion Athletic wear can be purchased at department stores, sporting goods, specialty retailers, and at Champion.com. Champion is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI).

About HSS

HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 11th consecutive year), No. 4 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2020-2021), and named a leader in pediatric orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2020-2021). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center four consecutive times. The global standard total knee replacement was developed at HSS in 1969. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Global Innovation Institute was formed in 2016 to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 130 countries. Through HSS Global Ventures, the institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.

About CoStar

CoStar is a unique platform with live content capabilities enabling us to be the only place where fans can come and speak face to face with their idols from any device, anywhere in the world. CoStar creates an experience that’s unique, powerful, and produced to enable a true connection between fans, celebrities, and brands in a controlled environment.

For more information visit: https://costarexperience.com/

About Banzai Inc.

Banzai is an interactive, award-winning program that has taught millions of young people real-world finance. It has been used by over 60,000 teachers in all 50 states. Founded in the midst of the Great Recession of 2007, Banzai’s software exposes youth to lifelike, financial scenarios, such as saving for goals and dealing with setbacks. The software is used in schools, community groups, non-profits, and businesses. Banzai is supported by partnerships with over 800 community banks and credit unions.


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