Kids from Racine combine their basketball skills with science during camp at Marquette

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Monday, July 11, kids from Racine youth basketball programs were at Marquette University for a basketball camp.

It was day one of the event. They listened to MU basketball Coach Shaka Smart  talk about what it takes to play college and professional basketball.

Booths were set up throughout the gym. Some of them tested their skills, like shooting and jumping. And computers were there to measure how they stack up against others.

It's the same software used by professional players at the NBA combines.

"It's vertical jump, it's a three-quarter court sprint, it's a shuttle run," said Coach Smart. "It's a variety of different physical exercises that are timed by machines. It's that precise, and it's important. The NBA personnel use those numbers to evaluate guys."

They also got a firsthand look at the technology used to measure the drills.

The camp was put on by 4th Family and SC Johnson. They hope to encourage kids to get into STEM careers by showing them all of the ways its used in everyday things -- like basketball.

While many young players dream of playing for the Bucks, they say there's more to the game than lacing up.

"If we can make the link at an early age between sports or basketball and science and technology it opens up career paths for these kids, in particular in underserved communities that they normally wouldn't have," said Alan VanderMolen, the chief communications officer at SC Johnson.

Whether it's personal trainer or physical therapy or one of the dozens of other career paths, there are science, technology, engineering and math jobs involved in basketball.