NBA Player David Lee Wraps Up Annual Chappaqua Basketball Camp

While former New York Knick David Lee may be playing for the Golden State Warriors, the NBA star kept his namesake basketball camp in Chappaqua, wrapping it up earlier this month.

Shouldering a proclivity for subbing in on 5-on-5 camper games and playing “knockout” (he took his first defeat this summer, when one lucky camper finally broke his four-year streak), Lee’s relationship with the campers helps keep his presence in the Westchester/Chappaqua area alive.

“We’ve been doing these camps for I think, what is it four years now?” Lee asked Teaches Hoops founder and director Terry Teachout before a sea of young onlookers and parents on Aug. 12.

“I know there’s plenty of familiar faces from when we first began and a lot of new faces as well," he said. "I may not be playing in New York anymore but each year, watching you guys grow as players and people makes this a great experience. I really enjoyed watching you guys develop and improve on aspects of your game this summer. One of our mottos, as you all know, is ‘get better’ and it seems everyone is buying into that.”

Lee continued to address the crowd as anxious parents snapped pictures and pointed video cameras at the big redhead from St. Louis.

“After we bring it in I want to make sure you all remember to thank everyone who helped you get to this camp and be part of this experience,” Lee said.

Teachout, the president of Dierdrof-Stead, Inc., lives in Yorktown with his wife Jana and their two twin seven-year-olds daughters, Haley and Taylor. He’s been running basketball camps, after-school programs and training players in the Westchester area for 24 years. 

The man they call “Teach” has earned a reputation as a shooting instructor, performing a variety of jumper-sharpening drills at the rich basketball real estate of Mount Vernon. He’s worked with a number of professionals throughout the area.

The list also includes NBA talents such as Al Harrington, Daniel “Booby” Gibson, and Andre Blatche over the years. He’s had the most success with Lee. Two seasons ago, the two worked relentlessly at rectifying Lee’s shallow slingshot and opening up a deep jumper.  

Lee, who jokingly admits he never took a shot beyond five feet from the basket at the University of Florida, reaped the rewards of the labor. He was named to the all-star team during his last year with the then-dungeon dwelling, downtrodden Knicks.

“David really has actual with all the kids,” said Teachout. “He likes his camp so much that he remembers campers names and comes up with ideas to implement that enhance the camp. He’s very generous with his time, taking pictures and signing a lot of autographs personally for each and every camper. He played in numerous knockout games. He played in our annual Staff vs. camper game, during which he put up seven dunks. He also played in many league games with the campers as well.'

Teachout met Lee through a mutual friend after a Knicks game during the 2005-06 campaign.

“David and I had a brief conversation about shooting and then put it together,” said Teachout. “We worked out at the Knicks practice facility in Greenburgh. We started his rookie year. Last year, I trained him after our Sleepy Hollow camp for the World games.”

Lee made it clear the camps will continue, despite the fact that he no longer plays for the hometown team. When asked if he would be pursuing his professional career in Europe (a move many NBA players are making now that the NBA is undergoing a strike), Lee flashed a smiled and deadpanned, “The league is on strike? When did this happen?”

He was joking, but his arsenal of electric dunks during the intense staff/camper game was no laughing matter.

Vitamin Water and Powerade continue to sponsor one of the premiere camps in Westchester County, and Teaches Hoops has been ingrained in the County formore than  24 years.

“If it was a stock, I’d buy it,” said Teachout, who hires a staff based on their coaching acumen and success in developing young players.

For more information on David Lee Basketball Camp or Teaches Hoops, visit www.teacheshoops.com or call 914-238-0278.