NATCHEZ — Rico Richardson said he felt a bit of nostalgia as he stepped into the Martin Gymnasium this past Tuesday.

Richardson, the former Natchez High School and Jackson State receiver who recently signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, was invited to speak at the H-Town Next Level Basketball Academy by his cousin Frank Chatman, who hosted the camp.

And the gym was a familiar sight to Richardson, who said he played basketball there in either the fifth or sixth grade.

“I was good at basketball, but football was more fun to me,” Richardson said. “This brings back a lot of memories. These kids are out there having fun and trying to get better. I just hope the kids enjoyed themselves and had fun.”

Richardson said he spoke on the importance of hard work and dedication and listening to their coaches. Camper Eric Smith, 8, said Richardson didn’t just talk about listening to coaches.

“He told us to respect our parents and listen to them,” Richardson said. “Most of the time they might get on our nerves, but he told me that they’re trying to tell me something that might help me.”

The camp lasted Monday through Thursday and helped introduce local youth to the game of basketball and improve their skills. Chatman, a Natchez native who lives in Houston, said he was happy to help give back to his native community.

“We had an awesome time, and I was pleased with the effort,” Chatman said. “The kids had great attitudes and were willing to learn. A lot of the kids were undeveloped and starting to play basketball for the first time, so it’s good to have that kind of potential that you can groom.”

Smith said the most important thing he took away from the camp was always making sure to dribble with your head up, being attentive to what’s happening on the court.

“If you dribble with your head down, someone might be open,” Smith said. “When you look back up, someone else will be on you.”

Smith received several awards at the camp’s closing ceremony Thursday night. In his group, he won the 3-pointer contest, the free-throw contest and the knock-out contest.

“It feels good,” he said. “The 3-point contest was my favorite, because I get to shoot from a far range. If I miss it, it will bounce off the rim and I can run up, catch it and lay it up.”

Jada Chatman, daughter of Frank Chatman, won the knock-out and layup contests and the most valuable player award in her group. She said it was exciting to receive the recognition, but she had help along the way.

“My dad works with me a lot, and my brother and cousins do, too,” Jada Chatman said.

Though the numbers were fewer than what he expected, Frank Chatman said it was a blessing to help the children that were able to make the camp.

“I do it for the kids,” Frank Chatman said. “I played on this very court, and to be able to come back is just a tremendous blessing. There wasn’t a basketball camp here in Natchez when I was growing up, so I wanted to just give back.”