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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; About 70 local boys and girls in grades 2 through 8 had the chance to learn how to dribble, shoot and score from professional basketball players Saturday.</p><p>They are participating in a clinic this weekend designed to teach them hoops with a helping of life lessons.</p><p>The camp was spearheaded by the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers mentoring program. The two-day event at the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center includes training from professional basketball players, basketball skills contests, lunch provided by the CYC, strength and fitness training, and a chance to enjoy open swim time.</p><p>&#8220;This is a collaboration between the CYC, the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers program, the S&amp;J Clutch Basketball Academy and FAME Strength,&#8221; said Ryan Smith, CYC program executive.</p><p>Youngsters eagerly learned from instructors Dave Jannuzzi and Chris Shovlin, former Wilkes University basketball standouts who made it to the professional level and now run the S&amp;J academy at the CYC. They organized free throw contests and one-on-one games for the players to showcase their skills and encouraged the kids to focus on healthy competition.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre Police Officer Robert Collins approached the CYC about starting the basketball camp earlier this year. He uses the center&#8217;s gymnasiums for practice sessions for the Explorers teams he organized in January.</p><p>&#8220;This is the first year of the partnership between the two organizations,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;This weekend&#8217;s camp is the second of hopefully many more to come.&#8221;</p><p>For more on the police department&#8217;s Explorers program, call Officer Collins at 570-472-8495.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Meyers grad and camp instructor Dave Jannuzzi gives instructions at the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_2-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Meyers grad and camp instructor Dave Jannuzzi gives instructions at the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_3-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Camryn Collins, of Mountain Top, warms up to start the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_3-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Camryn Collins, of Mountain Top, warms up to start the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_4-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">GAR graduate and camp instructor Chris Shovlin goes over defensive positioning and rebounding during the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_4-1-.jpg</photo2><caption2>GAR graduate and camp instructor Chris Shovlin goes over defensive positioning and rebounding during the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_5-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Blaze Oquendo, of Wilkes-Barre, runs through drills with other campers at the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_5-1-.jpg</photo3><caption3>Blaze Oquendo, of Wilkes-Barre, runs through drills with other campers at the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_6-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Camper Camryn Collins, of Mountain Top, practices ball-handling skills during the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_6-1-.jpg</photo4><caption4>Camper Camryn Collins, of Mountain Top, practices ball-handling skills during the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_1-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Janae McClary, left, and Jace John, both of Wilkes-Barre, practice ball-handling skills at the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL052018Camp_1-1-.jpg</photo5><caption5>Janae McClary, left, and Jace John, both of Wilkes-Barre, practice ball-handling skills at the Wilkes-Barre Police Explorers basketball camp at the Wyoming Valley CYC on Saturday. </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta></subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ralph Nardone</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Basketball campers learning life lessons through WB Explorers program