Although basketball has given way to baseball and football, kids in Laredo had an excuse to lace up their basketball shoes and head back to the hardwood one more time. Our Patrick Nelson has the story.
"As summer comes to a closer here in Laredo, kids had a chance to take part in one last summer camp: a basketball camp at Alexander High School. But this wasn't just any basketball camp, it was the first of it's kind pairing kids as young as six with NBA talent. Kaleb Canales comes from humble beginnings in Laredo; but has become a modern day success story. Canales, now an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, says he is living his dream. He says, in this weekend's camp, he wanted to stress the positive results of a strong work ethic. 'If you aren't working, somebody else is. Obviously whatever sport somebody plays, there is someone else working very hard. You have to instill that at a young age and keep building good habits,' says Canales. (Patrick:) 'Although this is the first time coach Canales has brought his camp back to Laredo, it is clear the message he is passing on to future generations of Laredo basketball.' 'The message talking to these young kids is to dream big. You have to! Obviously I'm very blessed and fortunate to be where I am today. And its my faith, family, and friends who believed in me. So the message is to dream big and always to be dreaming,' says Canales. Kids participating in the camp were given a big surprise: 6 feet-11 inches of surprise, to be exact. As upstart NBA Powerforward and former Texas Longhorns star Lamarcus Aldridge showed up to sign autographs, take pictures, but most importantly encourage Laredo's young talent. 'There's a lot of kids trying to get better. I think a lot of young talent, a lot of guys who want to come in and put in some hard work. And I think coach Canales is doing a great job putting on this camp,' says Aldridge. Dozens of young basketball players come to Canales hoping to learn. As we enter the final day of his camp, many of them are seen leaving with smiles on their faces. Coach Canales says he is excited to develop the camp into an annual event. 'Anytime the kids can get something from it and enjoy it and have fun and learn its a success and obviously this is year one and we want to continue to build from it,' says Canales. Reporting from Alexander High School, Patrick Nelson, Pro 8 News.