VIDALIA – Natchez native and Alcorn State assistant coach Sam West was in town here Saturday to give back to the community, and perhaps cultivate the crop for the future by holding a basketball camp for youngsters.

The age groups were broken down into sessions with the younger future hopefuls taking the time in the morning and the older kids coming in the afternoon. And although West had to depart before the second session was over, due to an unexpected conflict in the Brave’s practice schedule, West said the day provided him with just as much enjoyment as the children seemed to glean from it.

&uot;It’s very refreshing to be able to get down here and teach these young people the fundamentals at such a young age,&uot; West said. &uot;At this point, they haven’t been subjected to too much, so you have to be sure what you give them is good instruction.&uot;

Good instruction is exactly what West, 46, has been giving the Braves as the assistant to legendary head coach Dave Whitney. Whitney has gone on record as saying that he will be retiring after the season and many in the community speculate that the heir apparent to the helm is West, who is now in his sixth season.

But West refused to add any fuel to that, emphatically stating that it wasn’t certain if Whitney would be leaving and thus he would refuse to comment on things of that nature until the appropriate time.

The Braves (3-5) open Southwestern Athletic Conference play next Saturday at home against Jackson State.