When he steps on the basketball court, Juan Dixon still has all eyes on him.
His presence around the sport that he's played all his life commands attention.
Only these days, four years removed from his professional playing career overseas on the heels of seven years in the NBA and, before that, helping the University of Maryland capture a NCAA title in 2002, he captivates his audience in a different way.
Dixon, who last week brought his namesake youth basketball camp to Howard County for the first time through a partnership with Sports International, is finally settling into his transition from player to coach.
"I'm glad I'm in a position to give back. I truly believe that coaching is my purpose," said Dixon, a Calvert Hall graduate who is an assistant coach for the University of Maryland men's basketball team. "Basketball was a vehicle for me to get to this point in my life."
Hosted by Supreme Sports Club in Columbia, this year's Juan Dixon basketball camp had nearly 100 boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 17 enroll. The full-day camp ran the week of June 22-26 and, according to Dixon, was a tremendous success.
"I've been extremely pleased with all aspects … Sports International does a really great job putting everything together," Dixon said. "These kids are getting the opportunity to be around and work with some staff members that are coaching at the high school and college levels and then also some professional athletes.
"I personally wasn't fortunate enough to go to a lot of camps like this growing up, so this is something that I'm really glad we've been able to do."
Dixon has plenty of experience putting on successful camps. He has been involved with several sessions the last three years in coordination with a company called Premier Basketball Camps. And, going back even further to during his playing days, he had been involved with camps held at Loyola University that he helped run alongside Jimmy Patsos.
He ended up coming in contact with one of the owners of Sports International through the Columbia Ravens' football program that one of his two sons — Corey, 7, and Carter, 5 — was involved in. The Sports International company, which is based in Laurel and has specialized in football camps for more than three decades, was looking to get into the basketball side of things and thought Dixon was the perfect partner.
"It seems like anyone that has lived in Maryland the last 15 to 20 years, they know who Juan is. He's like a living legend around here," said Sports International regional marketing director Conor Anderson. "Anytime you can get someone who has that kind of name recognition to go along with the expertise Juan has having been involved with so many camps in the Maryland and D.C. area, it's exactly what you hope for."
Once Dixon was on board, Anderson said the next step was to find a location that fit the camp's needs. Sports International looked into local high schools and other venues before getting in contact with Columbia Association about its facilities.
Ultimately, Supreme Sports Club fit the bill.
"CA's Supreme Sports Club Arena was just renovated last year, so it's three basketball courts were a perfect place this summer for the nearly 100 campers who came," said David Greisman, a spokesman for Columbia Association. "Juan is a local hero who earned national acclaim, and it's wonderful that he came to Columbia to teach the game he loves to kids from this community and beyond."
Included among the kids in attendance at the camp were Dixon's two boys. He says that getting the opportunity to teach the game to them, along with all the other individuals in attendance, means a lot.
"My kids love basketball and it started at a young age — I knew when they were one, even eight months, that they were going to have a ball in their hands. They are having an amazing time learning the game," Dixon said. "They didn't get a chance to watch their daddy play in the NBA or college, but they know I was able to do some special things. It seems like to me that they are trying to follow in my footsteps."
As for the camp itself, Dixon says the focus is on fundamentals — both on offense and defense — and on playing the game the right way. But more important than any Xs and Os, he hopes everyone walks away with a memorable and fun experience.
"Something we talk a lot about as a staff is that we want the kids going home every day exhausted and, most importantly, telling their parents how much fun they had and how they are looking forward to coming back," he said. "We are definitely doing a lot of teaching, but helping them develop that love for the game is extremely important as well."
Considering the success this time around, Dixon says he hopes this is only the beginning. With the specifics worked out and the people in place, he foresees even bigger things moving forward.
"Hopefully this is something we can continue to build on … I know we've talked about the potential to double our numbers and being able to add another session next year," Dixon said. "We have an unbelievable staff and I'm excited about the possibilities."
For those who have an interest in Sports International's nationally acclaimed football camps, there are some slated for later this summer around the state. One such camp, hosted by CJ Mosley and Marlon Brown of the Baltimore Ravens and scheduled for July 10-13 at Towson University, will have some Howard County flavor as well with River Hill grad and current Baltimore Ravens' wide receiver Michael Campanaro scheduled to be in attendance to help out the morning of July 11..
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Interested individuals can visit footballcamps.com for more information on schedules and registration.
