By Steve Williams
Elston Turner was in town last week for his annual summer youth basketball camp and it was full of energy from Monday through Saturday at the Austin-East High School gymnasium that bears his name – Elston Turner Court.
Ages 6-11 had 50 campers and ages 12-17 had even more with 65 boys and girls.
The camp presented by the Emerald Youth Foundation has to be one of the best in the nation and appears to be growing.
A few of the campers were from out of state, with a nephew of Rodney and Rob Jones, former A-E standouts, coming from Los Angeles and Georgia being represented too.
Turner’s camp started in 1983, and with a few breaks through the years, Elston estimated the camp has been held close to 40 times.
“There have been college players that came through the camp,” said Turner, who completed another season on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ coaching staff this year.
When asked about the difference skill-wise in the youngsters, Turner said he has seen some.
But Elston also pointed out he doesn’t see as many outdoor courts being used like they used to be.
There have also been other changes in the game, he said.
“Everybody runs to the 3-point line,” said Turner. “It’s kind of destroying the post-up skill level and back-to-the-basket play. Even in the NBA a 6-10 player is a guard. That didn’t happen a long time ago.”
As a player himself, Turner grew up in East Knoxville and played at Austin-East for Clifford Ross, a coach who specialized in defensive play. He led the Roadrunners to the Class AAA state championship in 1977 with Turner his top player. This year was the 49th anniversary of that TSSAA state championship.
Other players on that team still work the summer camps at A-E. No wonder it’s one of the best in the nation.
After high school, Turner went on to star at Ole Miss before going pro.
UP AND COMING: Mazi Bates, a 7-year-old at this year’s camp, is ranked No. 1 in Tennessee and No. 22 in the nation by Top 25 Scouts. He goes to Sunnyview Elementary School in Knox County.
GET WELL SOON: Bruce Taylor, a longtime worker at Turner’s camp, had to miss this year due to hip surgery last week.
CAMP VISITORS: James Sandrige, an Ole Miss teammate of Turner, attended the camp along with Jacolby Cooper, a freshman wide receiver at UT from Alcoa High. Cooper’s “granny” works the camp and also wanted to meet Elston.
