To the delight of more than 100 youth basketball players inside the Mullins Recreation gym, the Francis Marion University basketball team served as instructors for multiple basketball drills and games Thursday night.
The Patriots team and the department director Allen Floyd hosted its second annual basketball clinic as a tip-off for the upcoming rec basketball season.
Floyd, a former Auctioneer standout said the clinic is one of several associated with the school. Along with the basketball team, the FMU soccer and baseball programs have also held clinics.
“We’re very fortunate in Mullins to have the FMU basketball team come out here and I think the kids and parents loved it along with the players,” Floyd said. “Hopefully, we’re going to inspire one more child to do better and that’s what the recreation department is all about.”
FMU assistant coaches Jarron Hinton and Crayton Jones were on hand to help organize the practice sessions that divided the youth players in rotating stations.
“We love coming out here and love this Mullins area,” he said. “We want kids to come away with the fundamentals of the game, which is most important.”
Hinton said the FMU program has a great working relationship with the former Patriots basketball star Floyd along with Mullins varsity basketball head coach Mark Gerald.
Marion native and former Swamp Foxes basketball star Maurice Grant is enjoying his first season as a member of the Patriots team as a junior-college transfer. He was happy to share some of his experience and love of the game.
“It feels really good to be able to give back with my team and I know the kids enjoyed it,” Grant said. “Me personally I started out playing recreational basketball and I feel all of these kids can do the same thing by just working hard and putting their mind to achieving their goals.”
Floyd said the youth basketball season is quickly approaching in a couple of weeks, with children practicing since Dec. 1 and through the winter break from school.
“The coaches and parents have put in a lot of time and now with have more kids than we’ve ever had with close to 200 participating,” he said.
Floyd gives a great deal of credit to parents and more than 50 volunteer coaches for the initial success.
“I couldn’t do without them,” he said. “They make it work.”
Francis Marion Roster:
Clayton Williams
Derek Hosey
Marcus Wright
Maurice Grant
Liki Turner
Evrik Gary
Mi’Kyel Nero
Darryn Frazier
Sam Caron
Lorenzo Williams
Marcel Williams
Zamarius MCLendon
Andrew Smith
A.J. Caldwell
Cameron Lee
Davide Gritti
Devante’ Jenkins
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