BUTTE, Mont. — Montana Tech men’s basketball has built a dynasty, winning the last four Frontier Conference regular season and tournament championships.

Now they are paying it forward with a skills camp, as Orediggers of the past, present, and future are in Butte this week to teach the next generation of hoopers what it takes to make it to the next level.

“The guys had such great experience when they played here, they want to come back and give back to the community and give back, and be able to interact with the current players,” said Montana Tech head coach Adam Hiatt.

The high potential camp has been a tech tradition since 2016. Last week was for the younger campers, while this week is for high schoolers, putting prospects on a team coach by a current, former, or future Oredigger, like former All-American Asa Williams.

“Giving kids faith and showing them that even if you don’t get a scholarship from Montana Tech, there may be a school that’s out there that maybe wants you. And that’s just my main goal,” said Williams, a Montana Tech forward from 2022-24.

Williams is back in Butte after an incredible debut season overseas, earning first team All-Import honors for the Hessing Kangaroos in Germany’s ProB league.

“My team won the regular season championship, so for my first time ever going overseas, it was a bit getting used to, but I really enjoyed the success that came with it,” said Williams, who plans on playing again in a higher division in Europe next season and would like to be a coach when his playing career comes to an end.

“It just shows that with a lot of hard work, you can make your dreams come true. And nobody works harder than Asa. And I’m hopeful that Asa’s going to instill that mentality on the team that he drafted this week,” said Hiatt.

As for the prospects, they understand the incredible opportunity to spend a week as an Oredigger and are trying to absorb all they can.

“I think I’m going to get the real college experience and it’s going to be fun meeting all the players and just playing with new kids,” said Hellgate class of 2026 forward Zane Gillhouse, who is hoping to get an official offer from the Orediggers by the end of the camp.

“I just want to improve my skills, improve my post work, really work on it in the games,” said class of 2026 forward Sulay Abubakari of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Abubakari has won the last two Idaho state titles alongside Asher Williams, an incoming freshman at Tech this year who is one of the coaches at this week’s camp.

The overnight camp, which includes personalized instruction, food and boarding, is less than $400 per participant, which is why there’s well over 100 kids taking part, and dozens more on a wait list.

“Everybody who comes to our camp has an understanding that we’re going to treat our camps like it’s our team that we’re coaching. We’re going to have the same level of intensity, the same sense of urgency, the same commitment to work ethic, the same attention to detail We get to a lot of teaching and incredible competition this weekand i want every camper that comes here to feel like they were part of our program for one week. That’s kind of the sense of satisfaction that the players have,” said Hiatt.

(MARYVILLE, MO) – The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team began a 3 day boys basketball camp on campus in Maryville on Monday.

Second year coach Matt Keeley and some of his players like juniors Trey Moala and Jack Ratigan were helping run drills for kids in 1st through 8th grade.

The camp intends to focus on fundamental skills for beginners and progressing the skills of higher players. The players and coaches enjoyed helping out the younger generation of players and giving back to the community. 

“Kind of reminds you of why you do it. You know, college athlete, you get caught up in just reps and like the daily routine and everything,” said Moala. “But when you get out here with the kids, it reminds you to just take it a lot easier. So it’s fun.”

“Getting the kids out here, we’re just trying to get them to have fun. Giving them a place in the summer to just come and play basketball,” said Ratigan. “It’s a cool experience to be around college basketball players when you’re that age, to see just kind of what you want to be and it’s awesome to be that for these kids, to just be there for them.”

“To get the little guys into the gym always gives a new sense of energy and just remind us all when we got started and where everything was,” said Keeley. “It’s always just fun to see the different levels of abilities, energy and excitement. You definitely get a feed off of what they bring in here. Plus we get to hand them out green and white Northwest shirts and get them thinking Bearcats at an early age.”

The camp continues on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Northwest will hold a skills camp for boys next month on July 29th through the 31st.  

NAVASOTA, Texas (KBTX) – For more than two decades, Kevin Baker has poured his heart into coaching and mentoring young athletes in Grimes County. This week, that commitment was recognized as Baker received the “Be Remarkable” award, presented by Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers and KBTX.

Baker, a former standout athlete who went to state in both football and basketball, has turned his love for sports into a lifelong mission of service. His coaching journey began with his sons and grandson and has since extended to generations of youth in the community.

“I started with my sons when they were little, and just kept going from group to group,” said Baker, who currently serves as president of the Grimes County Little Dribblers and coaches select AAU basketball teams.

Baker’s influence goes far beyond the sidelines. His sister, Jennifer Baker, who nominated him for the award, said she’s witnessed his tireless dedication firsthand.

“He’s always there for the kid. Early mornings, late nights, all day in the gym,” she said. “He loves sports, but more than that, he loves helping.”

That passion is echoed by Baker’s wife, who said she continues to be amazed by the energy and heart he brings to the court and community.

“It’s great to see his dedication—not just to the kids, but to the parents and everyone around him,” she said. “He keeps me going.”

For his selfless service, Baker was presented with a $500 check as part of the Be Remarkable program, which recognizes individuals making a meaningful difference in their communities.

“Coach, you are worth remarking about,” said Linda McMillan with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers. “Thank you for the way you care for your family, serve your community, and inspire the next generation.”

If you have someone you want to nominate for our Be Remarkable campaign click here!

Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.

LYNNWOOD—The ACCESS Project’s weekly Youth vs Cops basketball character building events came to a close on Tuesday, June 17, but its founder Wally Webster II says similar sporting events are planned through the summer – including volleyball, soccer, and flag football.

The ACCESS Project was started in 2022 as a collaborate movement bringing together government officials, educators, faith leaders, community organizations, and wellness professionals to support and uplift youth in Snohomish County.

One of the initiatives the ACCESS Project sponsored was to create a Cops versus Youth Basketball Game, an event purposefully designed to build trust, foster meaningful relationships, between law enforcement officers and youth.

“I love this because I’m a basketball guy,” Lynnwood City Councilman David Parshall, and former basketball coach, told the Lynnwood Times. “One of the reasons I liked coaching, both girls and boys, is that I knew how important it was to help keep some of these kids in school, work hard in their classes, and stay out of trouble.”

Refereeing several of the games was Lynnwood City Council candidate Dio Boucsieguez who told the Lynnwood Times on Tuesday that he had a “wonderful” time and thanked Webster for the opportunity.

“Seeing the kids get to know to the cops and vice versa over the course of the games made me happy,” said Boucsieguez. “Developing good relationships with our police is exactly what our Lynnwood boys need to keep them busy with good fun and out of trouble. I’m looking forward to refereeing more games in the future.”

Since April, youths have been squaring up with local law enforcement officers at Lynnwood’s Trinity Lutheran Church every Tuesday. Through that time many of the participants shared that they felt more connected with local law enforcement officers and were able to dispel feelings of fear toward them, now seeing them as just people.

“I feel more connected with the cops in my community. I feel more comfortable with them, and I’m no longer scared,” said Sai, one of the youths participating in the event.

The program particularly aimed to attract individuals who were introverted or lacked mentors who they could confide in with life’s challenges.

Deputy Marquies Moses, with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office, shared that when the program first started there was some hesitancy among kids, and parents alike, believing that it was a setup to take the kids away. But they made it an effort to ensure the kids, and parents, knew that law enforcement were there to just have fun and be a continued support system for the kids.

“This place gave me somewhere to go every Tuesday to play basketball. It gave me a chance to meet police officers and learn to not be scared of them like I used to be,” said Axel, another youth basketball player.

Marisa, a mother whose child was involved in the program, shared that among people of color there is often a disconnect between community members and law enforcement, that often when they “see something they just keep quiet.”

“This is a really good program. Giving our kids the confidence in our authorities is really, really, important, because they feel safe and they feel like they have someone they can call on just in case,” said Marisa.

A.J. Burke, Lynnwood Police Officer, said that when he was younger, he probably wouldn’t have joined a program like this because he lacked the life lessons and support at home to see “everyone as people.”

“What I hope everyone got from this is being able to see Police Officers as just people. People that you can talk to, just like your uncles, or cousins, or big brothers, your dad. We all go through the same things. When we’re on the court we’re all equal and that’s how it should be,” said Burke. “I’m not here to jam you up or get you in trouble, I’m here to help so come talk to me.”

Officer Luther Russell, with the Mountlake Terrace Police Department, added that at the end of the day cops take off their uniforms and spend time with their families, just like many of the youths who were playing basketball through the ACCESS Project’s program.

“We’re trying to be the stop before something bad happens. I don’t want to see your name on an arrest report. I don’t want to have to be the one who brings you to jail – that would literally break my heart,” said Russell. “Because when I look at you all I don’t just see some juvenile who wandered in off the street, I see my kids and other kids out there.”

Russell added that if there’s one takeaway, he hopes the kids walked away from the program with, it’s integrity matters; It’s doing the right thing when no one is watching. He also encouraged the kids to find a purpose in their lives because they only have one youth, and one life, to live.

Many of the police officers playing ball with the youths gave their personal cell phone numbers to the kids so they could be reached if they ever needed to talk or need a first contact before dialing 911.

“This event touched my heart. It touched my heart because I grew up in the rural south under Jim Crow. The laws were enforced by the Ku Klux Klan and most of the time the police officers were police officers during the day and clansmen during the night,” said Webster. “I was taught to fear in order to survive. To have this meeting, and this union between youth and police officers, helped me to dispel these emotions and those fears in a constructive way.

The purpose of the event, Webster added, was to provide youth with someone who they could call to prevent a criminal activity.

“There is a major difference between a video scenario and life. You cannot do what you see on TikTok, shut the screen off, and go to bed. If you do those same things in life, it will impact your life forever and ever. Think of the relationships you have with your friends, your community, with officers, with other adults who care about you so that you will have a long, productive life,” said Webster.

Back in April, Webster and the ACCESS Project’s Youth vs Cops basketball program was recognized by the Snohomish County Council with a resolution sponsored by Snohomish County Councilman Jared Mead.

MORRIS COUNTY – He authored landmark legislation known as “pass the trash,” signed into law in 2018, to keep sexual predators out of the classroom. Assemblyman Jay Webber wants to keep student athletes safe from predatory coaches.

On Thursday, the Assemblyman introduced a bill requiring anyone working with student athletes to undergo annual background checks.

“This isn’t the Saturday morning Little League of our childhood. This is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the push to discover the next Shohei Ohtani or Caitlin Clark. The increasing demand for coaches and trainers and the popularity of travel teams has created more opportunities for our athletes while at the same time increasing their chances of being exposed to harm,” Webber (R-Morris) said. “Sadly, men and women who want to harm children find ways to work with children. And the lack of regulation and oversight within many youth sports makes it an attractive opportunity for predators.”

The bill comes on the heels of an explosive NJ.com investigation published this week that found more than 100 coaches, trainers, and sports complex owners have been accused of sex crimes against minors, 57 of those happening since 2020. Many were able to exploit the lack of background checks or inaccurate, out-of-date offender databases to gain access to victims.

A lack of uniform state law has allowed problematic coaches to avoid scrutiny and continue operating in the coaching realm. Despite thousands of youth sports teams across more than 20 sports, requirements for coaches vary drastically from league to league. Some require stringent background checks while others have none at all. The investigation found that some coaches with formal criminal charges are not on these lists. Some are on the list but still actively coaching.

The state sex offender registry, created under Megan’s Law in 1994, does little to deter offenders or prevent sex crimes, according to a 2009 study cited in the investigation. Seventy-two percent of that law’s offenders don’t appear on the registry. Only 14 of the 118 coaches accused of sex crimes since 2015 are registered sex offenders online.

Webber, a father of eight and a volunteer baseball, softball, and basketball coach, said he’s glad the NJ.com investigation has brought this critical issue to light. 

“My children have been in every sport imaginable, and overall, sports have provided our kids with tremendous experiences and incredible opportunities.  Parents perform their due diligence to keep their kids safe while they enjoy youth sports, but the tools are broken,” Webber said. “My bill will create uniform mandates for criminal background checks and tough penalties to encourage compliance for all youth sports coaches, trainers, and anyone working with our young athletes to keep predators away.”