Former Kansas Jayhawk basketball star and current KU campus minister, Wayne Simien is bringing his annual "Called to Greatness" basketball camp to the Kanzaland area.

Next week on Tuesday, June 18th and Wednesday, June 19th Sabetha high school with be the host spot for the area for Simien's annual basketball camps. The two-day camp is for boys and girls from third to twelfth grade and will focus on offensive and defensive skills for all skill sets. Camp will run 9 a.m. to noon for third to sixth graders and 1-4 for seventh to twelfth graders.

"It was great to grow up in a young native Kansan and to go to different basketball camps across the state really honing my skills and I'm really excited to share that with this next generation. But also share so things at our camp make successful, not just in the game of basketball but in life, as well. Really teach them what it means to be great and it doesn't come in form of success on the court and money in your pocket but living for God and doing everything you can to help serve other people," said Simien.

But the camp doesn't center just on basketball as Wayne looks to teach campers exercise and nutrition, while the campers will be taught biblical principles that can help them succeed not only in the game of basketball but everyday life, as well.

In his seventh year conducting the camp Simien says he loves seeing kids that took part in the camp and how the non-basketball lessons and skills taught in the camp are still part of their lives as they moved in college and forward with their lives.

Wayne said of some of the first kids he taught in the camps are heading to college know. "Though a lot of them aren't playing basketball anymore and not using the basketball skills that they learned at the camp, it’s fun to hear from a lot of them sharing and still using the same principals and Christian values and ways of living that we share at the camp," said Simien.

Simien made the point that athletics seem to be a great avenue to help kids learn life lessons and values. "You'd be surprised at how well you’re able to communicate a lot of different life skills and Christian principals through the game of basketball or athletics in general. It's something that a lot of kids really understand and can really relate too. That's why we like to harness the influence of basketball and athletics to share these types of things with the kids and they will learn a bit of basketball skills, too." 

To learn more about the camp you can visit www.calledtogreatness.com or check out the flyer for Sabetha camp for contact information (flyer) (sign up directly for Sabetha camp here -- signup). To attend the camp it’s a cost of $65, but Simien said scholarships are available for kids who cannot afford the camp. You can inquiry and apply for a scholarship by visiting the website or emailing [email protected].

(To listen to full interview with former Jayhawk, Wayne Simien click audio link at top of story)