Joe: July 2006 Archives

They take their basketball seriously in Indianapolis . . . even while on duty.

Four Indiana State policemen, in full gear --- yes, even with handcuffs and fire arms dangling from their hips --- took turns firing up about 20 minutes’ worth of jump shots during the Nike Basketball All-America Camp’s dinner break Saturday evening in the National Institute of Fitness and Sport gymnasium.

A couple of them had more than enough pop in their right wrists to launch on-target attempts from behind the 3-point arc that were repeatedly right on or right at the mark, even without the advantage of getting any lift on the shots minus any basketball shoes.

"Hey Coach Massey, how are you doing?"

Ron Massey, the coach at Jordan High since the 1981-82 season, is in his 15th year as a member of the Nike All-America Camp’s academic staff.

But when Massey’s classroom duties at the camp are over for the morning, he sits in the stands with the likes of yours truly. Naturally, early Friday afternoon just moments after I arrived at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports (where most of the camp’s action is held, just a few blocks of the downtown and the RCA Dome) after a very early morning flight from Atlanta to Indy, I prompt Massey for his perspective on the talent at the camp that got underway on Wednesday.