By REED DESALVO

The Natchez Democrat

The Miss-Lou Youth Activities Association is back for a second season after a productive inaugural campaign and is hopeful for an even better showing this year.

“We had 120 basketball players and 60 cheerleaders last year,” program director Nook Logan said. “We’re just trying to spark up the kids interest and working with kids on a personal level and developing their skills.”

Last year’s camp was offered to kids from ages 4-15 years old, while this year’s version will be offered to kids ranging from 4-18.

Logan noted last year’s program proved to be a resounding success, having received an overwhelmingly positive response.

“Over 90 percent of the kids that played last year are coming back this year,” Logan said. “I like to challenge the kids to be better than they were the day before.”

Logan said he is hopeful campers will learn the fundamentals of the game of basketball while also developing strong sportsmanship.

 

“It’s week’s of basketball fundamentals,” he said. “There are a lot of kids that have never played the game, and we want them to learn as much as possible before we put them on the court.”

 

Logan’s message, however, goes past just on-the-court activities.

 

“We have tutorials for our students,” Logan said. “We partner with Kids Incorporated, and we’ll have the younger kids in a reading program.

 

“We have standards around here. It’s not just about basketball. Basketball gets the kids attention. Our main goal is the kids’ academics and keeping everyone on task.”

 

Educational values, including a reading program, and a strong focus on helping remain on the right path are just part of the program’s agenda.

 

The program also provides Logan himself with a fulfilling experience, helping kids grow and reach their full potential, both on and away from the basketball court.

 

“This is my people; this is where I came from,” Logan said. “I just wanted to offer something (to locals) that was more up to date that is being done in other areas.”

 

Registration is currently under way, and the league will be accepting applications up until Feb. 15.

 

For more information or to register, call Logan at 601-807-6570 or visit his Facebook page .

 

“People are really fired up about this season,” Logan said. “After the success of last year — people were talking about what we were doing, and when word spread out, it attracted more people to come watch.”