With the new school year just days away, Mark Washington wanted local students to have one more opportunity to relax, have fun and get on the basketball court before the seriousness of the school year began. 

The recently inducted Apopka Hall of Famer hosted his Back 2 School Basketball Camp on Friday night at Drills 2 Skillz Gym in Apopka, bringing together boys and girls from fourth through 11th grades for an evening of basketball, competition and a little motivation before the first day of school. 

The timing of the camp was intentional for Coach Washington. With the basketball season still months away, Washington wanted to provide a positive environment where campers could enjoy the game without the pressure that can come with a new season. 

“So one thing that I love about this time of year is it’s a time of fresh beginnings, fresh starts,” Washington said. “Everyone’s grades reset. Everyone’s dreams and goals, whether it’s elementary, middle school, high school, trying out for a team. No one’s been cut from any team at this point in time.” 

Washington opened the camp by wishing the campers good luck as they prepared to return to school the following week. The evening also included a backpack raffle, giving campers an additional boost heading into the new school year. 

While the event was designed to be fun, the campers still received plenty of basketball instruction. 

Washington was joined by several young coaches who have their own connections to the Apopka basketball community. Coaches Myrik Davis, Tyson Mathis, Savannah Mcafee, Josiah Robinson and Quantary Roberson are all former players who played for Apopka and Wekiva High School, and returned to help work with the next generation. 

The coaching staff began the night with calisthenics and warmups before moving into a series of competitive drills. 

The coaches took part in the Gladiator drill, an all-around basketball exercise designed to work campers through several different aspects of the game. The drill brought together elements of ballhandling, movement, defense, and decision-making. 

The competition continued with a free-throw contest, where young camper Easton emerged as the winner. Easton continued to make his presence felt throughout the evening, standing out during several of the camp’s activities. 

Campers then paired up with coaches for individual instruction, working on different types of passes and pump fakes. The one-on-one instruction allowed players to focus on fundamentals while receiving direct feedback from the coaches. 

From there, the campers moved into cone drills that incorporated quick catching and passing before transitioning into a catch-and-layup sequence. 

The night continued with a familiar basketball favorite as campers and coaches lined up for a game of Knockout. 

The camp eventually wrapped up with 3-on-3 competition, giving the campers one final chance to put the skills they had worked on throughout the night into a game setting. The Green team finished on top. 

The Back 2 School Camp is part of a larger series of themed basketball camps Washington has organized over the past year. He started with a Halloween Hoops Camp last year and has since held camps around Christmas, spring and summer break, and other seasonal events. 

“We try to base our camps, we try to theme them, whether it’s a holiday, whether it’s just something happening seasonally,” Washington said. 

The goal is to create opportunities for young athletes throughout the year rather than limiting basketball instruction to the traditional season. 

Washington also places an emphasis on making the camps accessible. 

It does not matter what school a camper attends or what level of basketball experience they have. Beginners, intermediate players and advanced athletes are all welcome. 

“It’s a chance to just get out here, take the pressure off, and then provide a quality opportunity, and then at an affordable price,” Washington said. “Because sometimes these can be pretty pricey. So I try to keep our prices and our location accessible for everybody.” 

That accessibility has become an important part of Washington’s approach as he continues giving back to the community that helped shape him. 

The Hall of Famer is planning a second Halloween Hoops camp this fall, with plans to keep the camps going for years to come.