Basketball Clinic at Malden High Introduces Children to the Game

This week’s “Power Dribble Basketball Clinic” at introduced children from Malden and nearby cities not only to the rules of the game, but some new friends.

Malden High School basketball coach Don Nally, Malden Youth Basketball Program director Joe Levine and Wheelock College Head Coach John Preziosa hosted the camp.

They taught 8-to-14 year olds how to stretch, shoot baskets and play as a team.

“It’s been real fun,” Preziosa said. “The kids have been enthused.”

Preziosa, who graduated from Malden High in 1988, said Nally and Levine were his basketball coaches "back in the day". In an e-mail, he said organizing the camp was a way to bring his “passion, hunger and drive back to the place that developed it.”

“Basketball is a great way to get everybody together,” he said. 

More recent graduates, like 27-year-old Lydia Coverdale, also volunteered their time throughout the week. Coverdale, who scored more than 1,000 points when she played basketball for Malden High, said her work with the children focused on “keeping their interest and their spirits up.”

“This is fun for me and a good way to give back and teach the next generation of kids about basketball.”

Before heading off to stretch, Matthew Roscoe, 9, practiced dribbling a ball through his legs. He said he had enjoyed his five days at the camp.    

“You get to play all these games,” he said, “and it’s really fun to do the three-on-threes and the five-on-fives.”

His friend, Jake LaVerde, also 9, joined in.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “We got to learn new stuff about basketball - and new moves.”