Bringing hoops to the troops

Photo By Sgt. Sarah Scully | Skip Prosser, Wake Forest University coach, talks to Soldiers and players during an Operation Hardwood IV basketball game. The games are part of a weeklong tournament pairing collegiate coaches with service members deployed in support of Third Army/U.S. Army Central.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

05.25.2007

Story by Spc. Wesley Landrum 

50th Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Wes Landrum
50th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — The guard brings the ball up the court.

"Set up the play!" Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser yells.

As the play develops, an open shot is attempted and missed. The players fight for the rebound and take control of the basketball.

"Get the rebound! Get the rebound," an animated Prosser says.

This game was not an opening-round game of the NCAA Tournament but the opening game of the fourth annual Operation Hardwood: Hoops With The Troops at Camp Arifjan. The event pairs up service member basketball teams from the Third U.S. Army area of operations with college coaches to compete in a weeklong tournament.

This year's ensemble of coaches consists of Prosser, Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey, University of Georgia Coach Dennis Felton, ESPN basketball analyst and former coach Fran Fraschilla, the U.S. Military Academy's Jim Crews, Ed Conroy from the Citadel, Vermont's Mike Lonergan, and Reggie Minton, deputy executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Wil Handy, organizer for this year's tournament, said the coach selection process is a long one.

"We get a lot of help from the USO," he said. "They send out feelers, and those that are interested in coming over to coach respond, and we get the ball rolling to get them here."

While the actual tournament did not start until May 23, the festivities began one night earlier as 35 individuals competed in a three-point and slam dunk competition.

Sgt. James Amott, 395th Finance Battalion, led off the three-point contest. He said all the playing time on the court could not prepare him for the contest.

"It's tough," he said. "At first, you feel fine. After the second or third rack of balls, however, your shooting arm gets tired."

Opening round games included the Life Support Area beating Camp Arifjan's Team 1, 50-47 and Camp Arifjan's Team 2 defeating one of the teams from Camp Buehring 49-39.

The tournament continues through May 27 and will include a total of eight teams.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2007
• Date Posted: 05.25.2007 09:12
• Story ID: 10509
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW