Fred VanVleet gives instructions on Saturday, June 24, 2023, during his summer camp at Auburn High School in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app
ROCKFORD — The National Basketball Players Association announced Saturday that Rockford native and Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was elected as the union’s president.
VanVleet’s four-year term begins immediately. He succeeds CJ McCollum.
“It’s truly an honor to be elected as president of the NBPA by my peers and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interest of all the members,” VanVleet said in a statement released by the NBPA. “With a deep appreciation for the complexities and challenges players face on all levels of their NBA journeys, I am committed to approaching this role with the passion, dignity, and dedication every player deserves.”
VanVleet was elected during the annual summer meeting of the Board of Player Representatives.
The 31-year-old Rockford native and 2012 Auburn High School graduate has spent nine years in the NBA, winning a title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He now plays for the Houston Rockets, who recently signed him to a new two-year deal worth $50 million with a player option in the 2026-27 season.
VanVleet, who was an all-star in 2022, remains committed to his hometown, where The VanVleet Family Foundation is involved in a variety of charitable efforts. He also hosts annual youth basketball camps and fundraisers here in Rockford.
“Beyond the court, VanVleet is committed to philanthropy and advocacy,” the NBPA said in a news release. “As a father of three, VanVleet demonstrates his leadership and commitment both on and off the court.”
The NBPA executive committee consists of:
Fred VanVleet, president
Grant Williams, first vice president
Mason Plumlee, secretary-treasurer
Jaylen Brown, vice president
Jaren Jackson Jr., vice president,
Donovan Mitchell, vice president
Garrett Temple, vice president
Karl Anthony Towns, vice president
Gabe Vincent, vice president
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
The Northwest Regional Corrections Center reported the arrest of the following –
Jason Thomas Grochow, 24 of Crookston, for first degree burglary of an occupied dwelling.
David Adam Arriaga, 37 of Crookston, for disorderly conduct
Lena Lorraine Sawyer, 41 of Crookston, for felony domestic assault
Eric Flores, 34 of Moorhead, for obstructing the legal process, interfering with a peace officer
Derrick Delano Mccuiston, 29 arrested in East Grand Forks, for terroristic threats
Crookston Fire Calls
Fire Report
On Sunday, December 14th at 2:33 p.m., the Crookston fire department responded to a call on the 600th block of Marin in Crookston. The call was for a broken sprinkler.
Tags: arrest/fire report, news, Northwest Regional Correction Center, police/fire report
Youth sports registration begins Jan 2 at MH Parks and Rec | KTLO
Rain: 7am to 7am: 0.00 Month: 0.10″ Year: 58.39″ Recorded temps: High: 38 Low: 10
Mountain Home youth sports are set to being registration for ages 3-15 beginning on Jan. 2. Registration will be available through Feb. 16 at the youth center, located at 1101 Spring Street.Recreational Coordinator Meagan Engeler joined Outdoor Recreational Coordinator Andrew McNair on KTLO’s Talk of the Town to give details on the registration process and available programs. Engeler says there will be an update with more details on their social media.
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McNair says this time of year staff are prepping the programs and getting equipment ready.
Listen:
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Programs offered this season include several coed and competitive leagues. Coed BomberBall will be available for children ages 3 and 4, along with Coed T-Ball for ages 5 and 6. Coed Soccer leagues will be offered for ages 6U through 10U.
Softball leagues will be available for ages 8U to 10U, while Baseball will be offered for ages 8U through 12U.
Academy-style programs are planned for older youth, including Soccer and Softball for ages 12U to 15U and Baseball for age 15U.
Coordinators encourage in-person sign-ups at the Youth Center at this time. More information is available by calling 870-424-9311 or their Facebook page linked with this story on KTLO.com.
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Back in 2017, Gardner boys basketball coach Pete Gamache started coaching a fourth-grade travel team.
Now, the grade school athletes are seniors and Gamache gets the chance to see the fruition of all of those seasons together.
Gamache’s son, Cam, who just wrapped up his senior soccer season starring for the Wildcats, along with six other teammates, all stuck with basketball through the years and are finishing their journey with one last season together on the court.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — There wass a youth movement at USA Basketball camp over the weekend with young WNBA players Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese making their debuts with the national team.
They’ve been competing against each other in college and the WNBA over the past few years and Bueckers was happy to have them as teammates again. Many of the young players had competed together for the U.S. on American youth teams. They’ll get their first taste of the senior national team in a camp at Duke this weekend.
“It’s great competing with them for a change instead of against them and I think we really bring out the best of each other,” Bueckers said. “I think that’s what USA Basketball does. Just so many amazing athletes and women coming together for one common goal. I think that’s always brought out the best of each other. It’s really fun to be able to share the court and be on the same side for a change.”
Bueckers gave the group the nickname “Young and Turnt” — a phrase used by youth players in the past to describe their high energy and excitement playing with USA Basketball.
The trio, along with other senior national newcomers Cameron Brink, Aliyah Boston and JuJu Watkins, are the future of USA Basketball with veterans Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird retired and other longtime fixtures in the lineup nearing the end of their careers. The U.S. has won eight straight Olympic gold medals and four consecutive world championships. Olympic veterans Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum will also be at the three-day camp.
“Obviously there’s some vets and there’s the older class who have already came in and won gold medals, and they have that experience,” Bueckers said. “So as a younger group, you want to ask them questions, soak it up, be a sponge. Like, get their experience and then grow in our experience as well.”
The average age of the 17 players at the camp is just over 25. Bueckers said having so many young players who have been together brings a comfort level.
“There’s a familiarity of competing with and against each other,” she said. “We kind of know each other and it’s more comfortable that way, too. We’re all coming in and we’re having the same expectations of just wanting to go in there and compete and have fun and bring our vibes in and just be us.”
Bird, who is now the managing director for USA Basketball, said this camp will hopefully give the new players a look at international basketball at its highest level.
“Really have it be a tone setter,” said Bird, who helped the U.S. win five Olympic gold medals as a player. “What is it to wear USA on your chest? What is it to be on this team? Whether it’s a World Cup qualifier we’ll get to in March or hopefully the gold-medal game of a big competition, you have to set the tone on Day 1.”
Though many invites went out for the camp, Bird said past Olympians such as A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Napheesa Collier had other commitments.
“There’s a lot of moving parts, that’s always how it is for USA Basketball,” Bird said. “For the young players, it’s a great opportunity to get their first feel and first taste.”
