Submitted photo – The attendees at last year’s McKinleyville basketball camp.

By Ray Hamill — It’s been a busy offseason for the McKinleyville boys basketball program and that’s not going to slow down anytime soon.

The defending Dick Niclai tournament champions have been busy preparing for next season as they look to continue their progression under head coach Chris Davis.

During the spring, many of the McKinleyville boys attended team camps in the East Bay and in Eugene, and this coming weekend they’ll continue their offseason preparation at the College of the Redwoods developmental camp.

They’ve also been competing at the St. Bernard’s summer league.

But that’s not all.

Many of the players, including recent graduates Nick Maher and Landon Bailey, will also be helping out early next month at the second annual Panther Basketball Summer Camp.

The camp will take place at McKinleyville Middle School from Aug. 4-7 (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and is open to players aged 7-13.

The camp will feature a different guest speaker each day, including new College of the Redwoods men’s head coach Justin Claus.

“I’m excited to keep offering the camp to the community,” Davis said. “Some of my best memories growing up in Humboldt County were attending camps and the relationships I built there, and I want these kids to come to our camp and have those fond memories.”

Last year’s camp featured 65 local youth players and registration for this year’s event is still open.

“We’re really focused on skill development,” Davis added.

Attendees will receive a camp t-shirt and a lunch each day.

A busy Harlan LaRue, who has been working at many of the local basketball camps this summer, including the Basketball Jones Hoop Camps, will serve as camp director, while new McKinleyville girls basketball coach Alisha Hunter will also be on hand.

Hunter has taken over the girls program from Jacob Cheek, who is the new McKinleyville High School Athletic Director.

Anyone interested in attending the camp can register online here.